Cook County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13075 · population 17,209 · 228 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 207 records for Cook County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 170 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (94 records). The deadliest single record is the January 22, 2017 tornado: 7 deaths, 45 injuries and $1.8 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1977, 16 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
- 207on 170 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 749 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $164Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Cook County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 94 since 1962. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 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 | 94 | 75 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.9M | 67 of 159 |
| Drought | 37 | 37 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 159 |
| Hail | 20 | 16 | 1973-2025 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 113 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 17 | 1970-2023 | 7 | 46 | $3.6M | 9 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 12 | 12 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 1 | $148M | 51 of 159 |
| Floods | 11 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $551K | 52 of 159 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 2008-2022 | 0 | 0 | $161K | 38 of 159 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 100 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 4 | 3 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 129 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 118 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 Cook County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Cook County from 1970 to 2023, the strongest rated EF3, with 7 deaths and 46 injuries recorded in the county. That is 9th of 159 Georgia counties and 143rd of 3,080 U.S. 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 20 tornadoes whose track touched Cook County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 11 people, 7 of them in Cook 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 Cook County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-22 | Sparks, Cook County | EF2 5.89 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $484K |
| 2021-12-30 | Massee, Cook County | EF1 2.19 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-09-16 | Greggs, Cook County | EF0 2.22 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-23 | Pine Valley, Cook County | EF1 13.99 mi x 650 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2017-05-24 | Massee, Cook County | EF0 1.12 mi x 568 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2017-01-22 | Greggs, Cook County | EF3 10.9 mi x 700 yd | 7 | 45 | $1.8M |
| 2016-06-26 | Flat Ford, Cook County | EF0 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2008-08-23 | Staunton, Cook County | EF1 1.4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2000-02-14 | Lenox, Cook County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-04-30 | Cook County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1989-03-30 | Cook County | F1 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-04-18 | Cook County | F1 9.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-04-05 | Cook County | F1 5.4 mi x 333 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-04-25 | Cook County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-06-27 | Cook County | F1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1971-02-08 | Cook County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-06-22 | Cook County | F2 0.3 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 Cook County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 26, 2024 hurricane ($141 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Trees were blown down countywide. Many trees fell on homes and businesses with many roads blocked. Power was out to most of the county.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1210034)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindPine Valley, Cook County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindStaunton, Cook County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindLenox, Cook County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-09 | HailPine Valley, Cook County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtCook County · forecast zone Cook | 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 | TornadoGreggs, Cook County This is a continuation of the northeast Brooks county tornado. The tornado then continued into Cook County. Still at EF-3 strength, it swept about 35 manufactured homes into a pile of rubble at the far end of the Sunshine Acres mobile home park. Seven people lost their lives. The tornado then went on to destroy about ... | EF3 10.9 mi x 700 yd | 7 | 45 | $1.8M |
| 2016-09-02 | Tropical StormCook County · forecast zone Cook Hurricane Hermine impacted southwest Georgia in early September with significant inland wind gusts which downed numerous trees and power lines. Rainfall generally ranged from 3-8 with minimal impacts from inland flooding. County by county impacts are as follows. In Cook county, there were numerous trees and power ... | 0 | 1 | $123K | |
| 2011-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindAdel, Cook County A restaurant in downtown Adele at the intersection of Highway 37 and Highway 41 had its roof peeled back by downburst winds. Three homes were also damage by falling trees with one injury reported in one home due to a fallen tree. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $39K |
| 2011-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindPine Valley, Cook County A trailer was overturned with one injury. Multiple trees and power lines were also blown down. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $26K |
| 1972-06-27 | TornadoCook County | F1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Cook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | $141M | |
| 2023-08-30 | Tropical StormCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 2017-01-22 | TornadoGreggs, Cook County | EF3 10.9 mi x 700 yd | 7 | 45 | $1.8M |
| 1993-03-23 | Thunderstorm WindAdel, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1998-03-08 | FloodCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 0 | $543K | |
| 2023-01-22 | TornadoSparks, Cook County | EF2 5.89 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $484K |
| 1998-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindAdel, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $317K | |
| 2016-09-02 | Tropical StormCook County · forecast zone Cook | 0 | 1 | $123K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 27, 1972 (tornado, Cook County); June 22, 1970 (tornado, Cook County); February 8, 1971 (tornado, Cook 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 Cook 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 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 36 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 27 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 15 · Feb 11 · Mar 18 · Apr 21 · May 28 · Jun 34 · Jul 30 · Aug 15 · Sep 11 · Oct 4 · Nov 9 · Dec 11 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cook County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Cook County: 10 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 |
| 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 Cook County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Cook County from 1998 to 2025, on 11 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cook County ranks 2400th 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 Irma | 2017-09-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $146,000 on 9 claims filed in Cook County; the most in one year was 3 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 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 Cook County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cook County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.6 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 | $3.4M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $234K | 72 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $168K | 24 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $676K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $207K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $28K | once in about 1,523 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $151K | once in about 849 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cook 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 Cook CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cook County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis