Charlton County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13049 · population 12,459 · 780 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 261 records for Charlton County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 189 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (122 records). The most damaging was the February 11, 1995 thunderstorm wind ($358,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1977, 19 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
- 261on 189 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Charlton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 122 since 1975. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in June and July. 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 | 122 | 101 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 2 | $518K | 157 of 159 |
| Hail | 50 | 34 | 1971-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 143 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 20 | 17 | 2009-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 159 |
| Floods | 17 | 13 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $420K | 138 of 159 |
| Drought | 14 | 8 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 152 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 10 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 1 | $279K | 152 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 10 | 9 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 144 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 6 | 4 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 153 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 23 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 117 of 159 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2012-2019 | 0 | 0 | $118K | 140 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 143 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 Charlton County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Charlton County from 1961 to 2025, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Charlton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Charlton County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-16 | Winokur, Charlton County | EF0 6.79 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-04 | Vantime, Charlton County | EF0 0.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-01-21 | St George, Charlton County | EF0 0.84 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-03-07 | Clarking, Charlton County | EF1 5.51 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-12-24 | Folkston, Charlton County | F0 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2002-12-24 | Winokur, Charlton County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $164K |
| 2000-03-30 | St George, Charlton County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $857 |
| 1998-02-22 | Folkston, Charlton County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1996-11-08 | Winokur, Charlton County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-02-02 | Mattox, Charlton County | F0 8 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 1961-03-31 | Charlton County | F1 3.3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
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 Charlton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 23, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindSt George, Charlton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHomeland, Charlton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-20 | FloodFolkston, Charlton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-19 | Heavy RainFolkston Davis Airport, Charlton County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindHomeland, Charlton County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Western Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Northeastern Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Western Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Northeastern Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Western Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCharlton County · forecast zone Northeastern Charlton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSt George, Charlton County | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindHomeland, Charlton County A tree fell on a trailer home and injured two residents inside. The victims were taken to the local hospital. The extent of their injuries was unknown. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1961-03-31 | TornadoCharlton County | F1 3.3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-02-11 | Thunderstorm WindFolkston, Charlton County | 0 | 0 | $358K | |
| 1996-10-07 | Flash FloodFolkston, Charlton County | 0 | 0 | $301K | |
| 2002-12-24 | TornadoWinokur, Charlton County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $164K |
| 2002-12-24 | TornadoFolkston, Charlton County | F0 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 1996-02-02 | TornadoMattox, Charlton County | F0 8 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2026-02-22 | WildfireCharlton County · forecast zone Western Charlton | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 1998-02-22 | TornadoFolkston, Charlton County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindSt George, Charlton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 Charlton 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 | 1 | 24 | 49 | 35 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 6 | 1 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 15 · Feb 16 · Mar 28 · Apr 24 · May 23 · Jun 63 · Jul 32 · Aug 22 · Sep 19 · Oct 6 · Nov 8 · Dec 5 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Charlton County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Charlton County: 7 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 4 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and fire (4).
| 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 |
| 2019-09-01 | EM-3422 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-05-08 | FM-5181 | Fire | West Mims Fire |
| 2016-10-06 | EM-3379 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2011-06-15 | FM-2920 | Fire | Racepond Wildfire |
| 2007-05-09 | FM-2693 | Fire | Bugaboo Scrub Fire |
| 2007-04-17 | FM-2685 | Fire | Sweat Farm Road Fire |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 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 Charlton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 17 flood or flash flood records for Charlton County from 1996 to 2026, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Charlton County ranks 1784th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.2 million on 39 claims filed in Charlton County; the most in one year was 13 in 2012. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1996: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 9 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 4 · 2012: 13 · 2017: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 3; 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 Charlton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Charlton County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.4 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 Moderate | $3.3M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $125K | once in about 363 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $188K | 5 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $106K | 77 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $257K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $94K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $71K | once in about 789 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $11K | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Charlton 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 Charlton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Charlton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis