Flood insurance in Georgia

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Georgia, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
70,251
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$973
$297 below the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$520.4M
across 24,479 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
54%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in Georgia, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2009, with $134.5 million paid on 2,985 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE0%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE53%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C46%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 35% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in Georgia

EventYearClaimsPaid
Late summer storms20092,363$124.6 million
Hurricane Irma20172,099$65.6 million
Tropical Storm Alberto1994987$36.7 million
Hurricane Helene2024670$31.5 million
Tropical Storm Ivan2004862$27.8 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in Georgia with detailed pages, by number of policies. 85 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
Chatham County23,375$9655,467$82.5 million
Glynn County13,659$1,0601,996$43.5 million
Bryan County3,316$905285$5.8 million
Fulton County3,259$9933,100$95.8 million
DeKalb County2,981$9321,998$29.2 million
Camden County2,980$755346$6.3 million
Cobb County2,461$8892,031$66.9 million
Liberty County1,543$825174$2.9 million
Gwinnett County1,107$862487$10.4 million
Dougherty County1,007$1,0811,255$28.4 million
Richmond County737$784574$5.2 million
Effingham County729$66977$1.1 million
Muscogee County642$1,149243$2.3 million
McIntosh County638$90266$1.0 million
Columbia County519$743164$2.1 million
Lee County223$1,214700$16.7 million

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in Georgia?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Georgia costs about $973 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in Georgia?

There are about 70,251 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Georgia, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does Georgia flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Georgia have filed 24,479 flood claims, with $520.4 million paid out. 6,028 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.