Natural hazards · Elberton

Elberton, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Elberton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Elberton?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Elberton to be higher than in 15% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding36%Earthquakes13%Heat waves13%Tornadoes10%Cold waves9%Hurricanes6%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Elberton faces

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

Inland flooding

36% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 13% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Heat waves

13% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 36% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Cold waves

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Hurricanes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 19 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

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 Elberton flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Elberton.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Elbert County.

Disasters that hit Elberton

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ElbertonDeclared for Elbert County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

1,049 households applied for aid $661K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Ivan

$13K to the City of Elberton for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

$2K to the City of Elberton for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$26K to the City of Elberton for repairs

Elbert County has had 12 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter 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. Elberton 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 Elberton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Elberton. 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.