Gilmer County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13123 · population 31,286 · 426 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 426 records for Gilmer County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 343 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (126 records). The deadliest single record is the August 24, 2000 lightning: 1 death. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1974, 18 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
- 426on 343 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 120 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $45Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 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 Gilmer County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 126 since 1961. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 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 | 126 | 95 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 2 | $3.2M | 127 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 68 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 10 | $1.9M | 23 of 159 |
| Hail | 58 | 49 | 1980-2020 | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | 67 of 159 |
| Drought | 44 | 44 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 77 of 159 |
| Floods | 31 | 25 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 1 | $12M | 43 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 2001-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 33 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 13 | 1970-2024 | 0 | 7 | $21M | 99 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 16 | 16 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $60K | 92 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 80 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 9 | 9 | 2010-2016 | 0 | 0 | $332K | 9 of 159 |
| Lightning | 7 | 7 | 2000-2017 | 1 | 0 | $93K | 61 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2001-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 71 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 106 of 159 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | $249K | 5 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 Gilmer County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Gilmer County from 1970 to 2024, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 7 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Gilmer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Gilmer County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-08 | Gennett, Gilmer County | EF0 1.94 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-08 | New Hope, Gilmer County | EF0 0.98 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-08 | Tails Creek, Gilmer County | EF1 0.76 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-08 | Kiker, Gilmer County | EF1 0.64 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-24 | Elders, Gilmer County | EF0 0.08 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2014-06-05 | Roundtop, Gilmer County | EF0 0.77 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2013-01-30 | Ai, Gilmer County | EF1 3.13 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2011-12-22 | Carlisle, Gilmer County | EF1 1.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2011-04-04 | Elders, Gilmer County | EF0 1.83 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $656K |
| 2011-04-04 | Roundtop, Gilmer County | EF1 2.64 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 1994-06-28 | Ellijay To, Gilmer County | F0 4 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $995 |
| 1977-07-01 | Gilmer County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1977-03-30 | Gilmer County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1976-02-18 | Gilmer County | F1 3.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Gilmer County | F2 12.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-03-16 | Gilmer County | F1 20 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-04-02 | Gilmer County | F0 0.5 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 Gilmer County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindEllijay Gilmer Co Ar, Gilmer County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindYukon, Gilmer County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindBurnett, Gilmer County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindLucius, Gilmer County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindSantaluca, Gilmer County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-05 | Thunderstorm WindCherry Log, Gilmer County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2024-05-08 | TornadoGennett, Gilmer County | EF0 1.94 mi x 200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-08-24 | LightningEllijay, Gilmer County Several Georgia newspapers reported that lightning struck and killed a 46-year old standing outside on the front porch of his home. The lightning bolt is believed to have traveled from a tall pine tree, approximately 10 feet away, through the ground, up through the man's body, and out his head. He was killed instantly. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-01-07 | Winter WeatherGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer The Gilmer County 911 Center reported from 2.0 to 3.0 inches of snow across the county. Most roads were snow covered and hazardous. Eighty traffic accidents were observed across the county. Ten individuals suffered minor injuries during these accidents. | 0 | 10 | – | |
| 1977-03-30 | TornadoGilmer County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoGilmer County | F2 12.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 2015-04-20 | Thunderstorm WindTails Creek, Gilmer County The Gilmer County Emergency Manager reported trees and power lines down on Ridgeway Church Road. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2003-07-16 | Flash FloodEllijay, Gilmer County The Gilmer county 911 center, along with the Times Courier of Ellijay, reported that excessive rainfall of three to seven inches in a one to three hour period had resulted in extensive flooding, especially along and near Georgia Highway 52 from Ellijay to Cartecay. Oiltown, Turkey, Clear, and Harris Branch Creeks had ... | 0 | 1 | $1.6M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | |
| 2012-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindTails Creek, Gilmer County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.2M |
| 2013-08-01 | Flash FloodCartecay, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtGilmer County · forecast zone Gilmer | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2003-07-16 | Flash FloodEllijay, Gilmer County | 0 | 1 | $1.6M | |
| 2015-12-24 | Flash FloodElders, Gilmer County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2011-04-04 | TornadoRoundtop, Gilmer County | EF1 2.64 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2011-05-26 | HailTails Creek, Gilmer County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
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: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Gilmer 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 Gilmer 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 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 25 | 49 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 28 | 26 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 30 | 12 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | 17 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 13 | 13 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 34 · Mar 34 · Apr 37 · May 51 · Jun 54 · Jul 45 · Aug 33 · Sep 30 · Oct 16 · Nov 17 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gilmer County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Gilmer County: 12 major disasters, 8 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 |
| 2021-05-05 | DR-4600 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2014-03-06 | DR-4165 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 1979-03-13 | EM-3072 | Flood | Rain, Flooding, Mudslide |
| 1974-04-05 | DR-425 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
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 Gilmer County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Gilmer County from 1996 to 2021, on 25 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gilmer County ranks 943rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.2 million on 199 claims filed in Gilmer County; the most in one year was 62 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1990: 12 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 8 · 2003: 10 · 2004: 62 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 29 · 2015: 55 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2; 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 Gilmer County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gilmer County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $118K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.7M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $521K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $12M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $509K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $654K | once in about 355 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $135K | once in about 669 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Gilmer 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 Gilmer CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gilmer County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis