Douglas County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13097 · population 144,139 · 200 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 581 records for Douglas County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 379 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (282 records). The deadliest single record is the September 20, 2009 flash flood: 6 deaths and $1.2 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 “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
- 581on 379 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 833 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $140Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Douglas County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 282 since 1957. 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 | 282 | 155 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 2 | $7.4M | 6 of 159 |
| Hail | 96 | 84 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21M | 3 of 159 |
| Drought | 39 | 39 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $799K | 15 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 32 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 25 of 159 |
| Floods | 28 | 22 | 1996-2023 | 7 | 0 | $32M | 6 of 159 |
| Lightning | 22 | 20 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 5 | $3.8M | 8 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 20 | 17 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $103K | 17 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 18 | 17 | 1998-2022 | 1 | 4 | $456K | 10 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 22 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1954-2024 | 0 | 22 | $71M | 39 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2001-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2002-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 27 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 Douglas County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Douglas County from 1954 to 2024, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 22 injuries recorded in the county. That is 39th 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Douglas County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Douglas County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-29 | Chapel Hill, Douglas County | EF1 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $28K |
| 2021-05-03 | Bill Arp, Douglas County | EF1 1.45 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 2008-03-07 | Chapel Hill, Douglas County | EF1 6.97 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.7M |
| 1991-03-29 | Douglas County | F2 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $25M step |
| 1990-02-10 | Douglas County | F1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1989-08-17 | Douglas County | F1 0.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-04-05 | Douglas County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 16 | $2.5M step |
| 1975-02-23 | Douglas County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1965-09-18 | Douglas County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1954-12-05 | Douglas County | F1 0.2 mi x 100 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 Douglas County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindDouglasville, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindLithia Spgs, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindMidway, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBig A, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindMidway, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindLithia Spgs, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindMidway, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWinston, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFairplay, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWinston, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFairplay, Douglas County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtDouglas County · forecast zone Douglas | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-20 | Flash FloodDglasvle Pinewood Ar, Douglas County Numerous emergency management sources, as well as local law enforcement, newspapers, broadcast media, and National Weather Service surveys confirmed that record and catastrophic flash flooding began across Douglas county during this time frame. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rain tracked from southwest to ... | 6 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2005-07-14 | Strong WindDouglas County · forecast zone Douglas The Atlanta-Journal and Constitution and local Atlanta television stations, along with confirmation from the Douglas County Emergency Management Office, reported that a sudden gust of wind as a result of outflow from thunderstorms some 30 miles away, blew down nearly two dozen roof trusses on building under ... | 31 kt wind | 1 | 4 | $38K |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodDglasvle Pinewood Ar, Douglas County Earlier flash flooding evolved into record and catastrophic flooding as confirmed by emergency management personnel and USGS stream gages. More than 40 roads across the county were completely washed out, including Post Road just south of Interstate-20. A portion of Interstate-20 near Fairburn Road was closed for ... | 1 | 0 | $12M | |
| 1985-04-05 | TornadoDouglas County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 16 | $2.5M step |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindWinston, Douglas County Tree down on car at high point rd near stockmar rd. | 56 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1991-03-29 | TornadoDouglas County | F2 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $25M step |
| 1975-02-23 | TornadoDouglas County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2024-12-29 | TornadoChapel Hill, Douglas County A brief EF1 tornado touched down near Britt Rd and Fairburn Rd in far eastern Douglas County traveling northeast just a quarter of a mile. A large tree fell and destroyed a home on Fairburn Rd injuring one of the occupants. Several other homes in this area also had minor to moderate damage from fallen trees. | EF1 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $28K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-21 | FloodDglasvle Pinewood Ar, Douglas County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodDglasvle Pinewood Ar, Douglas County | 1 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2011-06-15 | HailWinston, Douglas County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $4.2M |
| 2013-03-18 | HailDouglasville, Douglas County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.9M |
| 2008-03-07 | TornadoChapel Hill, Douglas County | EF1 6.97 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.7M |
| 2008-05-11 | Thunderstorm WindFairplay, Douglas County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.1M |
| 1996-08-11 | Flash FloodDouglasville, Douglas County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2009-04-23 | HailDouglasville, Douglas County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 29, 1991 (tornado, Douglas 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 Douglas 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 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 42 | 163 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 43 | 17 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 13 | 13 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 14 | 5 | 7 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 12 | 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 Douglas County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 43 · Mar 52 · Apr 66 · May 67 · Jun 75 · Jul 79 · Aug 62 · Sep 35 · Oct 15 · Nov 12 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Douglas County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Douglas County: 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and hurricane (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-01-12 | DR-4579 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-02-26 | DR-4259 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-09-24 | DR-1858 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-05-23 | DR-1761 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 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 Douglas County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Douglas County from 1996 to 2023, on 22 days, with 7 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Douglas County ranks 899th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $7.2 million on 215 claims filed in Douglas County; the most in one year was 91 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 11 · 1980: 2 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 17 · 1983: 1 · 1987: 2 · 1989: 6 · 1990: 20 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 3 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 14 · 2006: 1 · 2009: 91 · 2010: 4 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 4; 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 Douglas County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Douglas County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $34.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $7.2M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $852K | 65 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $975K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $392K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.7M | once in about 519 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $18M | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Douglas 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 Douglas CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Douglas County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis