Georgia Flood Zones
Georgia faces coastal flooding along its Atlantic shoreline, riverine flooding from major river systems including the Chattahoochee, Savannah, and Flint rivers, and urban flash flooding in metropolitan areas. Tropical systems moving inland bring heavy rainfall and widespread flooding.
4 of 159 Georgia counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 36 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.
FEMA Region
Region 4
Also covers Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, +4 more
NFIP Policies
95,000
Georgia Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 159 Georgia counties.
Inland Flood Risk
4 of 159 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
2 of 11 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
6 of 159 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Georgia has received 25 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
7
2000s
3
1990s
4
1970s
3
1960s
5
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 25 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Georgia properties have filed 24,393 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $516.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $21K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
3,040
2010s
6,032
2000s
6,076
1990s
7,156
1980s
1,373
1970s
716
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
9,933
Zone X
8,284
Zone A
5,314
Zone D
155
Zone VE
132
Zone V
58
Zone AO
10
Zone AOB
4
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Georgia
36 Georgia communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Georgia range from 5 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 25%.
Austell
Class 5 - 25% discount
Brunswick,city Of
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
St.. Marys
Class 6 - 20% discount
Powder Springs
Class 6 - 20% discount
College Park
Class 6 - 20% discount
East Point
Class 6 - 20% discount
Roswell
Class 6 - 20% discount
Hinesville
Class 6 - 20% discount
Griffin
Class 6 - 20% discount
+24 more Georgia communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Georgia Address
Enter a GA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupGeorgia Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Georgia.
Georgia Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Georgia property is in a flood zone?
Enter your GA address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Georgia?
If your Georgia property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Georgia's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Georgia?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Georgia are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Georgia property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Georgia property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. Note that for coastal properties in VE zones, LOMAs are less common because wave action creates risks beyond still-water elevation. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Georgia communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 36 Georgia communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 25% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Georgia.