Natural hazards · Covington

Covington, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Covington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1992. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Covington?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Covington to be higher than in 8% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding50%Tornadoes21%Earthquakes6%Hail5%Strong wind5%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Covington faces

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

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 10% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Tornadoes

21% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% of U.S. places

Hail

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Strong wind

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Covington flood?

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

5paid claims since 1992

$229Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19922026

Biggest named events

Early winter storms: 1 claim, $155K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Covington is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Newton County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Covington

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CovingtonDeclared for Newton County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

1,021 households applied for aid $733K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

712 households applied for aid $229K aid approved $37K to the City of Covington for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$466K to the City of Covington for repairs

2011

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

8 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

123 households applied for aid $369K aid approved $17K to the City of Covington for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$67K to the City of Covington for repairs

Newton County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

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. Covington covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

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

FEMA’s expected losses across Covington total about $2.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

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.