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Upson County, Georgia

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
117th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$6Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Upson County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 117th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $220 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $343,000 on 26 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Upson County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$756,312 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$357,864 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low31.7
$3M
TornadoLow39.0
$756K
Heat waveLow50.8
$358K
Strong windLow33.3
$306K
HurricaneLow64.2
$299K
EarthquakeVery Low50.7
$265K
LightningLow52.6
$238K
HailLow45.2
$202K
DroughtLow51.6
$148K
Cold waveVery Low8.0
$50K
WildfireVery Low41.6
$27K
Ice stormVery Low22.8
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low5.8
$4K
LandslideVery Low32.3
$344

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Upson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm5
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tropical Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 26, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 21
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 10, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1994Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 23, 1990Severe Storms, Tornaodes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Upson County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $5.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Lincoln Park.

21tornadoes
60hail reports, largest 2 inches
137damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 13, 2020EF3Lincoln Park0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Hendricks0 / 0
Jan 21, 2017EF2Ellerbeetown0 / 0
Jan 11, 1963F2–0 / 0
Feb 10, 1990F1–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$700K
Apr 27, 2011TornadoHendricks$500K
Apr 13, 2020TornadoLincoln Park$300K
Feb 10, 1990Tornado–$250K
Mar 29, 1991Tornado–$250K
May 2, 2003Thunderstorm WindThomaston$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1852, 1 hurricane and 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Upson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 75 mph about 57 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
17tropical storms
2018most recent: Michael

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph55 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph51 mi
Jul 8, 1896UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph55 mi
Aug 28, 1881UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Sep 12, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jul 29, 1926UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Upson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (18 policies)
15.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$342,683paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
1994costliest year, with $100,267 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Upson County

$168,700median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.4%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 12,434 housing units.

Compare in Georgia

All 159 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fulton CountyHighInland flooding
Gwinnett CountyHighInland flooding
Cobb CountyHighInland flooding
DeKalb CountyModerateInland flooding
Clayton CountyModerateInland flooding
Chatham CountyHighHurricane
Cherokee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forsyth CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Monroe CountyVery Low19
Meriwether CountyVery Low16
Pike CountyVery Low20
Lamar CountyVery Low17
Crawford CountyVery Low18
Taylor CountyVery Low14
Talbot CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Upson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Upson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Upson County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $756,312.

How many federal disasters has Upson County had?

Upson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Upson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 117th highest of 159 in Georgia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Upson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Upson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Upson County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Upson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 13, 2020 near Lincoln Park. The weather service has also logged 60 hail reports and 28 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Upson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Upson County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 75 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.