Brooks County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13027 · population 16,297 · 493 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 277 records for Brooks County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 206 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (148 records). The deadliest single record is the January 22, 2017 tornado: 2 deaths and $602,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1977, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 30, 2024.
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
- 277on 206 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 46 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $126Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 2024
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 Brooks County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 148 since 1956. 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 | 148 | 101 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 4 | $629K | 134 of 159 |
| Drought | 38 | 38 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 109 of 159 |
| Floods | 25 | 20 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 68 of 159 |
| Hail | 21 | 18 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 152 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 15 | 15 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $111M | 107 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 12 | 1963-2022 | 2 | 2 | $3.3M | 121 of 159 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 123 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 4 | 4 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 144 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 139 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2000-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 114 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 140 of 159 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 2 | 0 | – | 147 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 Brooks County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Brooks County from 1963 to 2022, the strongest rated EF3, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Brooks County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 11 people, 2 of them in Brooks County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-22 02:29, as SPC files it | Nashville | EF3 | 24.66 mi | 11 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Brooks County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-04-06 | Oaklawn, Brooks County | EF1 7.07 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2022-04-06 | Nankin, Brooks County | EF0 3.24 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-09-16 | Grooverville, Brooks County | EF0 2.97 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-09-16 | Morven, Brooks County | EF0 5.26 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-01-22 | Sand Hill, Brooks County | EF3 6.34 mi x 700 yd | 2 | 0 | $602K |
| 2017-01-22 | Pavo, Brooks County | EF1 3.27 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2001-03-15 | Pavo, Brooks County | F0 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1995-11-11 | Morven, Brooks County | F1 0.3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 1985-07-04 | Brooks County | F1 8.6 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-05-25 | Brooks County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1979-04-13 | Brooks County | F1 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-04-29 | Brooks County | F2 11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-02-08 | Brooks County | F1 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1963-04-06 | Brooks County | F2 8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-03-26 | Brooks County | F2 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Brooks County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 26, 2024 hurricane ($103 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Power lines and trees were blown down county wide and blocked 60-70% of the roads. Most of the county lost power.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1210031)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-12 | Flash FloodSand Hill, Brooks County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-12 | Flash FloodSand Hill, Brooks County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindDixie, Brooks County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-09 | HailOaklawn, Brooks County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-09 | HailDixie, Brooks County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-22 | TornadoSand Hill, Brooks County This was the second tornado to touch down from the same parent tornado that impacted Thomas and northwest Brooks Counties. The tornado touched down at EF-1 strength in northern Brooks County near Georgia Route 122 just west of the Moultrie Highway, snapping trees along the highway. Near the intersection of Georgia ... | EF3 6.34 mi x 700 yd | 2 | 0 | $602K |
| 2000-03-26 | LightningQuitman, Brooks County Lightning struck and killed two men working in a dairy field. Reported by the Brooks County SO. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1995-02-11 | Thunderstorm WindQuitman, Brooks County Two houses were destroyed by an apparent microburst. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Several trees were uprooted and many large pine trees were snapped. One small cinder block house was a total loss after its windward side collapsed inward. Two other homes were damaged by falling trees. | 0 | 4 | $147K | |
| 1971-02-08 | TornadoBrooks County | F1 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-30 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Brooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 2000-09-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Brooks County | 0 | 0 | $428K | |
| 2001-06-11 | Flash FloodCountywide, Brooks County | 0 | 0 | $417K | |
| 1998-03-08 | FloodBrooks County · forecast zone Brooks | 0 | 0 | $272K | |
| 1995-02-11 | Thunderstorm WindQuitman, Brooks County | 0 | 4 | $147K | |
| 1995-11-11 | TornadoMorven, Brooks County | F1 0.3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 2017-01-22 | TornadoPavo, Brooks County | EF1 3.27 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2022-04-06 | TornadoOaklawn, Brooks County | EF1 7.07 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
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: April 13, 1979 (tornado, Brooks County); July 4, 1985 (tornado, Brooks 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 Brooks 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 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 69 | 45 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 26 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Brooks County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 19 · Feb 13 · Mar 26 · Apr 31 · May 35 · Jun 36 · Jul 32 · Aug 39 · Sep 20 · Oct 8 · Nov 9 · Dec 9 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Brooks County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Brooks County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) and tropical storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4821 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024-08-05 | EM-3607 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2023-09-07 | DR-4738 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-14 | DR-4400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-01-26 | DR-4297 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2009-04-23 | DR-1833 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-10-19 | DR-1042 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains, Tornados, Flooding, High Winds |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1991-03-15 | DR-897 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
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 Brooks County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 25 flood or flash flood records for Brooks County from 1998 to 2026, on 20 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Brooks County ranks 2181st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-26 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Idalia | 2023-08-30 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Michael | 2018-10-10 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $443,000 on 16 claims filed in Brooks County; the most in one year was 4 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 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 Brooks County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Brooks County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $987K | 75 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $2.7M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $754K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $137K | 23 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $167K | 5.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $111K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $44K | once in about 1,600 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Brooks 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 Brooks CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Brooks County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis