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Augusta, GA Flood Zone Map

Last updated: August 2026

Augusta sits along the Savannah River and faces significant riverine flooding risk. The city has experienced major floods that inundated low-lying areas along the river and its tributaries.

Richmond County has recorded 571 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $5.2M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.

FEMA Region

Region 4

NFIP Policies

834

Richmond County

Avg. Premium

$772/yr

Richmond County

Active NFIP Policies: Richmond County

Richmond County had 834 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $772, totaling $644K in annual premiums. Because a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice, this runs above the number in force at any one moment.

Average Annual Premium

Richmond County$772
National Average$915

Policies by Flood Zone

Zone AE
414(avg. $953/yr)
Zone X
362(avg. $609/yr)
Zone A
58(avg. $499/yr)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Policies API. Reflects policies with an effective date in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 through August 16, 2026) - a 12-month policy term plus a 1-month buffer for OpenFEMA's own reporting lag - as an approximation of currently active policies, not a certified point-in-time count. Policies renewed early in this window may be counted twice, so actual totals may be somewhat lower than shown. See national policies data.

See the full flood insurance cost guide for how premiums vary by zone and risk factor.

NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Richmond County

Properties in Richmond County have filed 571 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $9K.

Highest-Claim Years

1990

72 claims - $939K

2024

64 claims - $769K

1998

63 claims - $409K

Claims by Flood Zone

Zone X
215(avg. $8K)
Zone A
205(avg. $8K)
Zone AE
150(avg. $12K)
Zone V
1(avg. $1K)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.

Flood Insurance Coverage: Richmond County

Only roughly 1 in 98 households in Richmond County carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). With 32 recorded flood events and $948K in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.

Penetration Rate

1%

roughly 1 in 98 households

Historical Claims Ratio

1 in 1

571 claims over 45+ years across 834 current policies

Avg. Claim Payout

$9,079

Per claim, county-wide since 1978

Historically, Richmond County has averaged 1 claim for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.

Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Augusta.

Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.

Repetitive Loss Properties: Richmond County

Richmond County has 47 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 6 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.

Multiple Loss

47

2+ claims within 10 years

Severe Repetitive Loss

6

4+ claims or 2 exceeding value

Mitigated

0

Received FEMA mitigation

By Flood Zone

Zone X
18
Zone AE
17
Zone A
12

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.

Federal Flood Disaster History: Richmond County

Richmond County has been included in 6 federal flood-related disaster declarations.

2024Hurricane HeleneHurricane
2018Hurricane MichaelHurricane
2017Hurricane IrmaHurricane
2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane
1990Severe Storms & FloodingFlood

...and 1 earlier declaration since 1990.

These declarations affected communities across Richmond County, including Augusta.

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.

Recorded Flood Events: Richmond County

NOAA has recorded 32 flood events in Richmond County since 1996, causing $948K in damage.

Costliest Events

March 7, 1996Flash Flood$400K
June 22, 2023Flash Flood$250K
August 7, 2012Flash Flood$80K
August 7, 2012Flash Flood$60K
September 17, 2020Flash Flood$50K

Events by Type

Flash Flood
32

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Mitigation: Richmond County

FEMA has funded mitigation for 60 properties in Richmond County, investing $1.7M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).

By Action Type

Other
47
Acquisition
13

Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.

FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Richmond County

Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.

Inland Flood Risk

Relatively Moderate

Est. annual loss: $24.0M

Hurricane Risk

Relatively Moderate

Est. annual loss: $5.6M

Social Vulnerability: Relatively High
Community Resilience: Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.

What Your Flood Zone Means in Augusta

Augusta faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Augusta are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $24.0M.

Riverine flood risk in Augusta is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.

River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Augusta address.

Augusta, GA Flood Zone FAQ

What flood zones are in Augusta, GA?

The most common FEMA flood zones in Augusta are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.

Is flood insurance required in Augusta?

If your Augusta property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.

How do I check my flood zone in Augusta?

Enter your Augusta address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.

What type of flooding affects Augusta?

Augusta is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Augusta address.

Has Augusta experienced major flooding events?

Richmond County, where Augusta is located, has been part of 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.

How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Augusta?

Richmond County has recorded 571 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1990, with 72 claims and $939K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Augusta.

How many flood insurance policies are there in Augusta?

Richmond County had 834 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $772. The most policies are in Zone AE (414 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.

How many Augusta properties have flooded repeatedly?

Richmond County has 47 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 6 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.

Can my Augusta property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?

Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.

What is Base Flood Elevation in Augusta?

Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Augusta's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.

See the Flood Map for Any Augusta, GA Address

Enter a Augusta, GA address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.

Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.