Banks County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13011 · population 18,018 · 233 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 350 records for Banks County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 293 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (112 records). The deadliest single record is the July 8, 2008 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and $41,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1976, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 350on 293 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Banks County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 112 since 1975. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Georgia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 112 | 92 | 1975-2025 | 1 | 0 | $724K | 49 of 159 |
| Hail | 52 | 47 | 1977-2017 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 36 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 52 | 51 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 14 of 159 |
| Drought | 41 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.1M | 23 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 16 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $184K | 29 of 159 |
| Floods | 15 | 14 | 1997-2020 | 0 | 0 | $481K | 42 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 15 | 1998-2015 | 0 | 0 | $929K | 17 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1952-2021 | 0 | 6 | $6.1M | 57 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 6 | 2002-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 45 of 159 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $89K | 97 of 159 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Banks County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Banks County from 1952 to 2021, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries recorded in the county. That is 57th of 159 Georgia counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 10 tornadoes whose track touched Banks County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Banks County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-17 | Carlan, Banks County | EF1 5.69 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-04-13 | Baldwin, Banks County | EF1 4.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2016-11-30 | Banks Crossing, Banks County | EF1 0.43 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2014-05-14 | Homer, Banks County | EF1 7.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2006-04-08 | Five Pts, Banks County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $512K |
| 2000-07-23 | Homer, Banks County | F0 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $180K |
| 1995-01-19 | Homer To, Banks County | 0 | 0 | $395K | |
| 1989-04-04 | Banks County | F2 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-05-14 | Banks County | F2 6.5 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1952-02-29 | Banks County | F2 9.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Banks County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | DroughtBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindWoffords Settlement, Banks County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindCarlan, Banks County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHomer, Banks County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter StormBanks County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-08-17 | TornadoCarlan, Banks County | EF1 5.69 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoBaldwin, Banks County | EF1 4.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2017-04-05 | HailFive Pts, Banks County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $290K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindGillsville, Banks County The Banks County Emergency Management Director reported that more than a dozen trees were down across the county. A number of trees were down in the western part of the county along Georgia Highway 51 and Hickory Flat Road between Gillsville and Homer, and in the eastern part of the county on Georgia Highway 51 ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $41K |
| 1952-02-29 | TornadoBanks County | F2 9.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1976-05-14 | TornadoBanks County | F2 6.5 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2000-07-23 | TornadoHomer, Banks County An NWS Survey Team concluded that an F0 tornado briefly touched down 5 miles west-southwest of Homer and traveled for 2 miles with an approximate path width of 100 yards to a point approximately 3 miles southwest of Homer. One person was injured, apparently by debris, but little additional information was known. The ... | F0 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $180K |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | $7.1M | |
| 2000-01-22 | Ice StormBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2006-04-08 | TornadoFive Pts, Banks County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $512K |
| 2002-12-13 | High WindBanks County · forecast zone Banks | 0 | 0 | $427K | |
| 2014-05-25 | HailAlto, Banks County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $297K |
| 2017-04-05 | HailFive Pts, Banks County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $290K |
| 2005-08-08 | Flash FloodMaysville, Banks County | 0 | 0 | $264K | |
| 2000-07-23 | TornadoHomer, Banks County | F0 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $180K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 29, 1952 (tornado, Banks County); May 14, 1976 (tornado, Banks County); April 4, 1989 (tornado, Banks County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Banks County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 32 | 22 | 32 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 22 | 19 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | 15 | 6 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 32 · Mar 24 · Apr 34 · May 42 · Jun 41 · Jul 28 · Aug 35 · Sep 24 · Oct 14 · Nov 14 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Banks County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Banks County: 9 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-01-12 | DR-4579 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2015-04-20 | DR-4215 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
| 1976-06-11 | DR-507 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Banks County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15 flood or flash flood records for Banks County from 1997 to 2020, on 14 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Banks County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $53,000 on 2 claims filed in Banks County; the most in one year was 1 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2013: 1 · 2020: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Banks County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Banks County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $250K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $142K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $226K | 41 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $464K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $170K | 58 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $676K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $837K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Banks County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in GeorgiaEvery Georgia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in GeorgiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Georgia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Banks CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Banks County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis