Natural hazards · Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Fitzgerald comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1997. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Fitzgerald?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Fitzgerald to be higher than in 14% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding35%Tornadoes25%Hurricanes17%Earthquakes8%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Fitzgerald faces

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

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 9% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

25% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

17% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Fitzgerald flood?

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

14paid claims since 1997

$149Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19972026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 claim, $6K

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. Fitzgerald isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Ben Hill County.

Disasters that hit Fitzgerald

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into FitzgeraldDeclared for Ben Hill County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

3,139 households applied for aid $2.2M aid approved $423K to the City of Fitzgerald for repairs

2018

Hurricane Michael

$96K to the City of Fitzgerald for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

$106K to the City of Fitzgerald for repairs

2009

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

190 households applied for aid $198K aid approved $109K to the City of Fitzgerald for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

$26K to the City of Fitzgerald for repairs

Ben Hill County has had 10 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. Fitzgerald covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Fitzgerald’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Fitzgerald. 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 Fitzgerald total about $1.3M 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.