Natural hazards · Clayton

Clayton, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Clayton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2004. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Clayton?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Clayton to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding54%Cold waves23%Tornadoes8%Lightning6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Clayton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

54% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 30 years in the area

Lightning

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Clayton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clayton, from FEMA’s records.

8paid claims since 2004

$304Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20042026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 6 claims, $167K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Clayton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Rabun County.

Disasters that hit Clayton

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Clayton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Clayton.

Brought FEMA money into ClaytonDeclared for Rabun County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

155 households applied for aid $123K aid approved

2021

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

$144K to the City of Clayton for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$18K to the City of Clayton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding

77 households applied for aid $26K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Ivan

73 households applied for aid $153K aid approved $36K to the City of Clayton for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

$3K to the City of Clayton for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$4K to the City of Clayton for repairs

Rabun County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Clayton is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Clayton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Clayton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.