Natural hazards · Roswell

Roswell, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Roswell comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 61 claims here since 1982. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Roswell?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Roswell to be higher than in 25% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding74%Tornadoes10%Earthquakes6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Roswell faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 48% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 57% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 Roswell flood?

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

61paid claims since 1982

$1.5Mpaid to owners

7homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Late summer storms: 32 claims, $1.2M
Tropical Storm Ivan: 4 claims, $78K
Hurricane Helene: 2 claims, $7K

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

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Roswell is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Fulton County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Roswell

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RoswellDeclared for Fulton County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

78 households applied for aid $95K aid approved

2017

Hurricane Irma

$43K to the City of Roswell for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$7K to the City of Roswell for repairs

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

445 households applied for aid $520K aid approved $317K to the City of Roswell for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

3 households applied for aid

2004

Hurricane Ivan

60 households applied for aid $158K aid approved $149K to the City of Roswell for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$634K to the City of Roswell for repairs

Fulton County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Roswell

Roswell and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Miltonmostly inland floodingLow

Mountain Parkmostly inland floodingLow

Johns Creekmostly inland floodingLow

Roswellmostly inland floodingLow

Sandy Springsmostly inland floodingLow

Alpharettamostly inland floodingVery low

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. Roswell covers 24 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Roswell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Roswell. 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 Roswell total about $24.2M 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.