Natural hazards · Valdosta

Valdosta, GA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Valdosta comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 85 claims here since 1980. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Valdosta?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Valdosta to be higher than in 32% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding41%Hurricanes30%Tornadoes10%Cold waves6%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Valdosta faces

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 26% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

30% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

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

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Valdosta flood?

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

85paid claims since 1980

$4.2Mpaid to owners

12homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Idalia: 11 claims, $528K
Hurricane Helene: 4 claims, $245K
Hurricane Elsa: 1 claim, $3K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Lowndes County.

Disasters that hit Valdosta

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ValdostaDeclared for Lowndes County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

25,171 households applied for aid $30.8M aid approved $17.2M to the City of Valdosta for repairs

2023

Hurricane Idalia

7,503 households applied for aid $3.9M aid approved $8.4M to the City of Valdosta for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

1 household applied for aid $659K to the City of Valdosta for repairs

2009

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

142 households applied for aid $700K aid approved $497K to the City of Valdosta for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

$82K to the City of Valdosta for repairs

Lowndes County has had 13 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. Valdosta covers 14 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Valdosta’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Valdosta. 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 Valdosta total about $11.9M 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.