5 Most Common Natural Disasters in Georgia

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) calls thunderstorms the most common type of natural disaster in the state [1]. They’re also behind many of its worst floods. In September 2009, days of steady rain caused 500-year floods around metro Atlanta, damaging about 20,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings and triggering federal disaster declarations in 23 counties [1].

Savannah has its own flood story. Chatham County sits on a low-lying coastal plain, so the Savannah, Wilmington, Vernon, Forest, Grove, and Ogeechee rivers, plus several local canals, can all flood nearby areas [2]. Since 1948, the county has flooded more than 14 times from storms dropping 4 inches of rain or more, and more than 1,400 homes have flooded on record [2].

Good to know: Flood insurance is a separate policy from regular property insurance, and it usually comes with a 30-day waiting period [2]. Not sure what your homeowners policy covers? Read our guide on flood damage and homeowners insurance in Georgia.

Georgia takes hits from storms that form in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico [1]. Hurricane Floyd in 1999 set off what GEMA describes as the largest evacuation effort in American history, with roughly three million people on the road [1]. In 1994, Tropical Storm Alberto stalled over Georgia and dropped up to 25 inches of rain in under 24 hours [1].

Hurricane Matthew in 2016 is the one Savannah remembers. The National Weather Service measured a storm tide of about 5.1 feet above mean higher high water at Fort Pulaski, the highest level recorded there at that point [3]. Matthew came ashore in South Carolina, yet it still brought storm surge, freshwater flooding, river flooding, and hurricane-force gusts to southeast Georgia [3].

Curious how your address stacks up? See what Savannah flood zones mean for your home.

Tornadoes can strike in any month, but March, April, and May are historically Georgia’s busiest stretch [1]. GEMA notes that more than 1,450 tornadoes were reported in the state over roughly half a century [1]. Tropical systems can spin them up, too: when Katrina’s remnants crossed Georgia in 2005, a record 18 tornadoes touched down [1].

For homeowners, the damage often comes in two waves. First, the wind tears at the roof, then rain pours through the opening. That second wave is water damage.

Wildfire may not be the first thing you picture in the Coastal Empire, but 2026 changed that. Extreme drought helped fuel two destructive fires in southern Georgia in April, the Pineland Road and Highway 82 fires, which together burned more than 50,000 acres by April 28, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission [4]. Both were human-caused, and limbs and trees downed by Hurricane Helene in 2024 helped feed them [4]. News reports cited by NASA say the fires destroyed more than 120 homes, the most lost to wildfire in state history [4].

Fire and water damage go hand in hand, since firefighting leaves structures soaked.

Ice and snow mostly hit north Georgia, but they can be brutal. In January 2011, a single storm shut down transportation in parts of the state for five days and affected 70 percent of Georgia [1]. Savannah sees fewer of these, yet a hard freeze can still burst pipes and flood a home from the inside.

Every disaster above shares one thing: water. Storm surge, roof leaks, river overflow, burst pipes, and fire hoses all end the same way, with wet floors, walls, and belongings. Mold can take hold in damp materials, so speed matters.

If water gets in:

What is the most common natural disaster in Georgia?

Severe thunderstorms, along with the flooding they cause, are the most common natural disasters in Georgia.

Does Georgia get hurricanes?

Yes. Georgia is vulnerable to storms from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and coastal areas near Savannah can see storm surge and flooding, as Hurricane Matthew showed in 2016.

Does Savannah, GA flood?

Yes. Chatham County has flooded more than 14 times since 1948 from storms with 4 inches of rain or more, and hurricanes add storm surge risk.