Dodge County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13091 · population 19,846 · 496 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 376 records for Dodge County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 254 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (139 records). The deadliest single record is the July 23, 2010 heat, filed for the forecast zone Bleckley, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1977, 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
376on 254 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
411 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$249Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
18strongest EF2
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 Dodge County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 139 since 1972. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1972 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.

Dodge County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 139 121 1972-2024 0 0 $1.3M 116 of 159
Drought 47 27 1997-2026 0 0 $18M 129 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 36 17 2002-2024 0 0 $333K 100 of 159
Hail 35 34 1962-2023 0 0 $57K 115 of 159
Extreme cold 28 14 1996-2007 0 0 $221M 95 of 159
Heat 23 12 1999-2012 2 0 – 89 of 159
Floods 19 12 1997-2021 0 0 $709K 110 of 159
Tornadoes 18 15 1954-2024 2 11 $6.0M 101 of 159
Winter storms 13 8 2002-2026 0 0 $1.6M 115 of 159
High wind and dust storms 6 4 1998-2004 0 0 $511K 108 of 159
Heavy rain 4 2 2001-2002 0 0 – 124 of 159
Lightning 4 4 1998-2009 0 0 $150K 99 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 4 2 2002-2002 0 0 – 115 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 Dodge County had?

NOAA records 18 tornadoes in Dodge County from 1954 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 2 deaths and 11 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 18 tornadoes whose track touched Dodge County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 18, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Dodge County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2011-04-05 00:39, as SPC files itUnnamedEF23.13 mi1
1996-11-08 04:35, as SPC files itChesterF24 mi1

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Dodge County (18)
Every tornado recorded in Dodge County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-05-09 Dubois, Dodge County EF1 12.2 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-06 Cochran Airport, Dodge County EF1 4.51 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-06 Bryant, Dodge County EF0 1.8 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 Roddy, Dodge County EF1 5.62 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 Copeland, Dodge County EF0 3.85 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2017-04-05 Dubois, Dodge County EF1 4.1 mi x 350 yd 0 0 $241K
2015-01-04 Dempsey, Dodge County EF1 0.32 mi x 120 yd 0 0 $4K
2014-05-14 Eastman, Dodge County EF0 1.72 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $62K
2011-04-05 Dubois, Dodge County EF2 3.13 mi x 50 yd 1 2 $197K
2007-12-15 Jay Bird Spgs, Dodge County EF0 0.5 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $36K
2007-04-15 Eastman, Dodge County EF2 3.64 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $712K
2007-04-15 Eastman, Dodge County EF1 4.48 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $498K
1996-11-08 Chester, Dodge County F2 4 mi x 50 yd 1 6 $376K
1995-10-27 Rhine, Dodge County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $97K
1980-03-21 Dodge County F1 5.9 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250K step
1958-11-28 Dodge County F2 0.2 mi x 33 yd 0 1 $250K step
1955-04-02 Dodge County F1 5.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1954-04-16 Dodge County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $3K 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 Dodge County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 11, 2017 tropical storm ($301,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The local news media reported many trees and power lines blown down across the county. Several homes throughout the county received damage when trees fell onto them as did an apartment building in Eastman. A wind gust of 48 mph was measured in Eastman. Radar estimated between 1.5 and 3.5 inches of rain fell across the county with 3.38 measured near Chauncey. No injuries were reported.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 721373)
The 12 most recent records kept for Dodge County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-01 DroughtDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 –
2026-02-01 DroughtDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 –
2026-01-18 Winter StormDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 –
2026-01-13 DroughtDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 –
2025-01-21 Winter StormDodge County 0 0 –
2024-05-09 TornadoDubois, Dodge County EF1 12.2 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-06 TornadoCochran Airport, Dodge County EF1 4.51 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-06 TornadoBryant, Dodge County EF0 1.8 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 TornadoRoddy, Dodge County EF1 5.62 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 TornadoCopeland, Dodge County EF0 3.85 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2017-09-11 Tropical StormDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 $301K
2017-04-05 TornadoDubois, Dodge County EF1 4.1 mi x 350 yd 0 0 $241K

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

Records with deaths or injuries in Dodge County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2010-07-23 HeatBleckley County and Dodge County · forecast zone Bleckley The Macon Telegraph reported that an elderly couple passed away at their home of 62-years as the result of heat exposure or heat exhaustion. The 90-year old male and 83-year old female couple left their home around 1030 am EDT Friday, 07/23/10, to go outside to a wooded area behind their home, approximately 50 yards ... 2 0 –
1996-11-08 TornadoChester, Dodge County A mixture of severe thunderstorm winds and tornado damage occurred in a track from near Chester in northern Dodge county into Laurens county. In Dodge county near the intersection of highways 257 and 126 down-burst/straight-line winds pushed over several very large oak and sycamore trees, blew the tin roof off of an ... F2 4 mi x 50 yd 1 6 $376K
2011-04-05 TornadoDubois, Dodge County A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF2 tornado tracked across northern Dodge county. The tornado touched down approximately 10 miles northwest of Eastman near Friendship UMC Road, just outside the Gresston community, and traveled ... EF2 3.13 mi x 50 yd 1 2 $197K
2007-04-15 TornadoEastman, Dodge County A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF1 tornado, with a maximum wind speed of 90 mph, had touched down about one mile west of downtown Eastman and traveled north-northeast to a point about four miles north-northeast of downtown Eastman. The total path ... EF1 4.48 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $498K
1958-11-28 TornadoDodge County F2 0.2 mi x 33 yd 0 1 $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.

The costliest records in Dodge County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2007-04-07 Frost/FreezeBleckley County and Dodge County · forecast zone Bleckley 0 0 $221M
2000-06-01 DroughtDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 $10M
2000-06-01 DroughtBleckley County and Dodge County · forecast zone Bleckley 0 0 $8.0M
2002-01-02 Winter StormDodge County · forecast zone Dodge 0 0 $1.6M
2007-04-15 TornadoEastman, Dodge County EF2 3.64 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $712K
2007-04-15 TornadoEastman, Dodge County EF1 4.48 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $498K
2005-03-27 Flash FloodCountywide, Dodge County 0 0 $378K
1996-11-08 TornadoChester, Dodge County F2 4 mi x 50 yd 1 6 $376K

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: November 28, 1958 (tornado, Dodge County); March 21, 1980 (tornado, Dodge 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 Dodge 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).

Dodge County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0061421304226
Drought––––63443
Hurricanes and tropical storms––––02268
Hail010571354
Extreme cold––––42400
Heat––––41450

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 1972 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 30 · Feb 18 · Mar 42 · Apr 36 · May 42 · Jun 58 · Jul 36 · Aug 24 · Sep 40 · Oct 23 · Nov 10 · Dec 17 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Dodge County

FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Dodge County: 8 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and tropical storm (2).

Declarations including Dodge County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3642Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-30DR-4830HurricaneHurricane Helene
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2024-08-05EM-3607Tropical StormHurricane Debby
2020-03-29DR-4501BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3464BiologicalCovid-19
2018-10-14DR-4400HurricaneHurricane Michael
2018-10-10EM-3406HurricaneHurricane Michael
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2009-04-23DR-1833Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
2005-09-05EM-3218HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-24DR-1560HurricaneTropical Storm Frances
1998-03-11DR-1209Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1994-07-07DR-1033TornadoTornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)
1993-03-15EM-3097SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1977-07-20EM-3044DroughtDrought

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 Dodge County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 19 flood or flash flood records for Dodge County from 1997 to 2021, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dodge County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Dodge County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Irma2017-09-1110

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Dodge County; the most in one year was 1 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2017: 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 Dodge County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dodge County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.0 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Dodge County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$3.8Monce in about 4 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$567K31 modeled event-days a year
HurricaneRelatively Low$1.3Monce in about 6 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$645K7.9 modeled event-days a year
LightningRelatively Low$147K67 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$367Konce in about 3 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Low$204K1.4 a year (modeled)
WildfireVery Low$62Konce in about 1,586 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Dodge County

  1. Laurens County 560
  2. Dodge County 376
  3. Wilcox County 273
  4. Telfair County 246
  5. Pulaski County 231
  6. Bleckley County 216
  7. Wheeler County 177

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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