Calhoun County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13037 · population 5,573 · 280 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 150 records for Calhoun County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 133 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (57 records). The most damaging was the December 24, 2002 thunderstorm wind ($820,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1994, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 26, 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
- 150on 133 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 010 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $221Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Calhoun County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 57 since 1971. 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 | 57 | 48 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 144 of 159 |
| Drought | 41 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 14 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 9 | $16M | 40 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 8 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | $192M | 112 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 8 | 7 | 2010-2026 | 0 | 0 | $64K | 94 of 159 |
| Hail | 7 | 7 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 154 of 159 |
| Floods | 6 | 5 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 133 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 110 of 159 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 119 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 131 of 159 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $110K | 132 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 119 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 Calhoun County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Calhoun County from 1957 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries recorded in the county. That is 40th 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Calhoun County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Calhoun County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-01-13 16:58, as SPC files it | Arlington | F1 | 3 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Calhoun County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-09 | Arlington, Calhoun County | EF1 17.18 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2017-01-22 | Moye, Calhoun County | EF2 2.91 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $241K |
| 2017-01-02 | Leary, Calhoun County | EF0 0.66 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $301K |
| 2016-04-07 | Moye, Calhoun County | EF2 11.45 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 5 | $184K |
| 2015-11-02 | Cordrays Mill, Calhoun County | EF0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-04-14 | Morgan, Calhoun County | EF0 0.83 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2005-01-13 | Arlington, Calhoun County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-09-15 | Arlington, Calhoun County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1974-02-19 | Calhoun County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1974-01-20 | Calhoun County | F1 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1973-12-26 | Calhoun County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-04-30 | Calhoun County | F2 19.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1958-03-07 | Calhoun County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $3K step |
| 1957-11-08 | Calhoun County | F1 10.2 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 Calhoun County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindMorgan, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindHolt, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindTurman, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindArlington, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindMorgan, Calhoun County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindEdison, Calhoun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Heavy SnowCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-04-07 | TornadoMoye, Calhoun County The combination of dual-polarization radar data and the damage survey show that the tornado initially touched down very close to the Clay/Randolph County line west of US Highway 27. The tornado then continued on a continuous path for nearly 16 miles across much of northwestern Calhoun County. Initial damage northwest ... | EF2 11.45 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 5 | $184K |
| 1958-03-07 | TornadoCalhoun County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $3K step |
| 1985-12-12 | Thunderstorm WindCalhoun County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1974-02-19 | TornadoCalhoun County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1974-01-20 | TornadoCalhoun County | F1 | 0 | 1 | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-12-24 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Calhoun County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $820K |
| 2005-07-11 | Flash FloodCountywide, Calhoun County | 0 | 0 | $756K | |
| 1998-03-08 | FloodCalhoun County · forecast zone Calhoun | 0 | 0 | $498K | |
| 2017-01-02 | TornadoLeary, Calhoun County | EF0 0.66 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $301K |
| 2018-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindArlington, Calhoun County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $294K |
| 2016-04-07 | TornadoMoye, Calhoun County | EF2 11.45 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 5 | $184K |
| 2024-01-09 | TornadoArlington, Calhoun County | EF1 17.18 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2007-04-14 | TornadoMorgan, Calhoun County | EF0 0.83 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 19, 1974 (tornado, Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 21 | 9 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 31 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
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 Calhoun County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 12 · Mar 15 · Apr 10 · May 15 · Jun 8 · Jul 16 · Aug 14 · Sep 8 · Oct 5 · Nov 10 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Calhoun County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Calhoun County: 9 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| 2017-01-25 | DR-4294 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 1994-07-07 | DR-1033 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto) |
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 Calhoun County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Calhoun County from 1998 to 2024, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Calhoun County ranks 2590th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Michael | 2018-10-10 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $101,000 on 5 claims filed in Calhoun County; the most in one year was 2 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1998: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 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 Calhoun County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Calhoun County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $810K | 45 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $963K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $448K | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $586K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $90K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $60K | 72 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $55K | once in about 799 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $8K | once in about 1,526 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Calhoun 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 Calhoun CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Calhoun County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis