Dooly County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13093 · population 11,183 · 393 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 266 records for Dooly County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 217 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (101 records). The deadliest single record is the March 31, 1961 tornado: 1 death and 14 injuries. 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
- 266on 217 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 157 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $80Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest F3
- 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 Dooly County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 101 since 1965. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 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 | 101 | 85 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 8 | $894K | 129 of 159 |
| Hail | 36 | 29 | 1987-2024 | 0 | 0 | $471K | 108 of 159 |
| Drought | 30 | 29 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $28M | 113 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 20 | 1956-2026 | 1 | 49 | $49M | 37 of 159 |
| Floods | 16 | 15 | 1998-2019 | 0 | 0 | $562K | 73 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 16 | 15 | 2002-2018 | 0 | 0 | $241K | 88 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 75 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 71 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 8 | 7 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 107 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2001-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 1998-2004 | 0 | 0 | $481K | 93 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 159 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $391 | 141 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 Dooly County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Dooly County from 1956 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 49 injuries recorded in the county. That is 37th 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 20 tornadoes whose track touched Dooly County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 21: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-03-31 07:20, as SPC files it | Unadilla | F3 | 1 mi | 1 |
| 1999-04-15 08:20, as SPC files it | Vienna | F3 | 14.5 mi | 0 |
| 1971-04-23 18:25, as SPC files it | Vienna | F3 | 13.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Dooly County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | Pinehurst, Dooly County | EF0 2.41 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-05 | Byromville, Dooly County | EF2 5.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-04-05 | Drayton, Dooly County | EF1 8.77 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2012-01-21 | Snow Spg, Dooly County | EF0 10.45 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2010-03-12 | Snow Spg, Dooly County | EF0 1.53 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $68K |
| 2009-04-10 | Vienna, Dooly County | EF0 5.55 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2009-04-10 | Drayton, Dooly County | EF1 21.48 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $825K |
| 2009-03-28 | Lilly, Dooly County | EF0 0.28 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 2006-12-31 | Unadilla, Dooly County | F2 0.46 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $586K |
| 1999-04-15 | Drayton, Dooly County | F3 14.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 28 | $18M |
| 1989-10-01 | Dooly County | F2 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1975-03-13 | Dooly County | F2 8.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1971-05-08 | Dooly County | F1 2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-04-23 | Dooly County | F3 9.9 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1969-02-13 | Dooly County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-03-06 | Dooly County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-03-31 | Dooly County | F3 1 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 14 | $2.5M step |
| 1961-02-24 | Dooly County | F2 4.9 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-05-07 | Dooly County | F2 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-07-10 | Dooly County | F1 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1956-03-08 | Dooly County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Dooly 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoPinehurst, Dooly County | EF0 2.41 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindByromville, Dooly County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindVienna, Dooly County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindLilly, Dooly County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtDooly County · forecast zone Dooly | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtDooly County · forecast zone Dooly | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter StormDooly County · forecast zone Dooly | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-13 | DroughtDooly County · forecast zone Dooly | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter StormDooly County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindMars Hill Crossroads, Dooly County | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | Thunderstorm WindRichwood, Dooly County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-05 | TornadoByromville, Dooly County | EF2 5.8 mi x 300 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-03-31 | TornadoDooly County | F3 1 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 14 | $2.5M step |
| 1999-04-15 | TornadoDrayton, Dooly County An NWS Storm survey showed the tornado touched down along highway 27 at the Flint River near Drayton. The tornado hopped eastward along highway 27, demolishing pecan orchards and barns, before devastating the town of Vienna. It exited the town between 2 schools, with only minor damage to either. It later crossed I-75 ... | F3 14.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 28 | $18M |
| 1992-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindDooly County | 0 | 5 | – | |
| 1975-03-13 | TornadoDooly County | F2 8.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1990-02-10 | Thunderstorm WindDooly County | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2006-12-31 | TornadoUnadilla, Dooly County A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, GA, concluded that a tornado touched down near the intersection of Snow Springs Road or Georgia Highway 230, just west-northwest of Unadilla, and traveled 1/2 mile to a point just east-northeast of Unadilla. While the tornado was ... | F2 0.46 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $586K |
| 1959-07-10 | TornadoDooly County | F1 0.7 mi x 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtDooly County · forecast zone Dooly | 0 | 0 | $28M | |
| 1999-04-15 | TornadoDrayton, Dooly County | F3 14.5 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 28 | $18M |
| 2009-04-10 | TornadoDrayton, Dooly County | EF1 21.48 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $825K |
| 2006-12-31 | TornadoUnadilla, Dooly County | F2 0.46 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $586K |
| 2005-03-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Dooly County | 0 | 0 | $453K | |
| 2017-04-05 | TornadoDrayton, Dooly County | EF1 8.77 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2009-03-28 | TornadoLilly, Dooly County | EF0 0.28 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 2009-04-10 | TornadoVienna, Dooly County | EF0 5.55 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
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: March 31, 1961 (tornado, Dooly County, 1 killed).
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 Dooly 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 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 9 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 6 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 13 · Mar 30 · Apr 29 · May 29 · Jun 38 · Jul 31 · Aug 20 · Sep 17 · Oct 16 · Nov 7 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dooly County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Dooly County: 10 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| 2009-09-24 | DR-1858 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1999-04-20 | DR-1271 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-07-07 | DR-1033 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto) |
| 1990-02-23 | DR-857 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornaodes & 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 Dooly County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Dooly County from 1998 to 2019, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dooly County ranks 2105th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $323,000 on 19 claims filed in Dooly County; the most in one year was 5 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1998: 4 · 2005: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2020: 2 · 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 Dooly County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dooly County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.1 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 | $1.7M | 50 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $258K | 7.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $480K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $87K | 66 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $196K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $31K | once in about 2,124 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $145K | once in about 628 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Dooly 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 Dooly CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dooly County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis