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Wilkinson County, Georgia

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

Very Low overall risk
150th of 159highest risk in Georgia
$3Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wilkinson County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 150th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $311 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Wilkinson County

$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
$356,387 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$318,460 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 49 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low8.8
$1M
Strong windLow37.7
$356K
DroughtLow63.1
$318K
Heat waveLow45.1
$272K
HurricaneLow63.2
$272K
TornadoVery Low16.6
$158K
EarthquakeVery Low35.9
$108K
HailVery Low15.6
$49K
Cold waveVery Low7.6
$46K
WildfireVery Low41.9
$27K
LightningVery Low8.3
$25K
Ice stormVery Low18.6
$13K
Winter weatherVery Low2.2
$1K
LandslideVery Low30.3
$297

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 Wilkinson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1
Tropical Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Oct 14, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 15, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 11, 2014Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 14
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 24, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disaster
Mar 11, 1998Severe Storms and 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 153 storm reports in Wilkinson County since 1956, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $965,100 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 3, 2017 near Brooks.

13tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 2 inches
100damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 2017EF2Brooks0 / 0
Mar 1, 2007EF2Nickelsville0 / 0
May 11, 2008EF1Gordon0 / 0
Mar 3, 2019EF1Mc Rae Tlfr Whlr Arp0 / 0
Mar 21, 1980F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindMcintyre$100K
Apr 3, 2017TornadoBrooks$100K
Mar 28, 2023Flash FloodIvey$100K
Aug 10, 2003Thunderstorm WindMc Intyre$75K
May 11, 2008TornadoGordon$50K
Mar 3, 2019TornadoMc Rae Tlfr Whlr Arp$45K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 18, 2024. 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 1851, 4 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Wilkinson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 80 mph about 49 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
21tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 80 mph49 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Oct 2, 1898UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Aug 24, 1851UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Aug 31, 1856UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 1, 80 mph49 mi
Oct 11, 2018MichaelCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Oct 7, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 12, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 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 Wilkinson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Wilkinson County

$86,300median home value (Georgia $303,300, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Georgia 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
33.2%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; 4,304 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
Laurens CountyLow17
Baldwin CountyLow12
Jones CountyVery Low15
Washington CountyVery Low14
Bleckley CountyVery Low14
Johnson CountyVery Low17
Twiggs CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Wilkinson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wilkinson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wilkinson County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $356,387.

How many federal disasters has Wilkinson County had?

Wilkinson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Wilkinson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 150th 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 Wilkinson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Wilkinson County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Wilkinson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 3, 2017 near Brooks. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 4 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wilkinson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Wilkinson County. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 80 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.