Jekyll Island, Georgia Flood Zones
Jekyll Island is a Glynn County barrier island with near-total SFHA coverage, where virtually every property sits within a high-risk flood zone. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 caused significant flooding across the island. Jekyll Island holds a CRS Class 5 rating, reflecting strong floodplain management for this state-owned resort community.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Glynn 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 LowEst. annual loss: $5.8M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $4.5M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $21.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Glynn County
Glynn County has been included in 11 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 3 earlier declarations since 1999.
These declarations affected communities across Glynn County, including Jekyll Island.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Glynn County
Properties in Glynn County have filed 1,995 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $43.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $22K.
Highest-Claim Years
2017
884 claims - $29.0M
2016
255 claims - $5.8M
2005
242 claims - $2.8M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
1,479
Zone X
378
Zone A
51
Zone VE
40
Zone AO
9
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Jekyll Island
Properties in Jekyll Island, GA are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Jekyll Island are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $5.8M. Properties in Jekyll Island's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Jekyll Island are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. 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.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Jekyll Island address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Jekyll Island's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Jekyll Island Address
Enter any Jekyll Island, GA address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupJekyll Island, GA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Jekyll Island, GA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Jekyll Island are Zone VE, 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 Jekyll Island?
If your Jekyll Island 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Jekyll Island?
Enter your Jekyll Island 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.
Does Jekyll Island offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Jekyll Island participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Jekyll Island experienced major flooding events?
Glynn County, where Jekyll Island is located, has been part of 11 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 Jekyll Island?
Glynn County has recorded 1,995 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $43.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2017, with 884 claims and $29.0M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Jekyll Island.
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