Gordon County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13129 · population 57,400 · 356 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 440 records for Gordon County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 336 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (124 records). The deadliest single record is the April 3, 1974 tornado: 6 deaths and 25 injuries. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1973, 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
- 440on 336 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 655 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $211Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest F4
- 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 Gordon County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 124 since 1957. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 124 | 104 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 4 | $24M | 83 of 159 |
| Hail | 108 | 83 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | 24 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 42 | 42 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.8M | 34 of 159 |
| Drought | 41 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $137M | 62 of 159 |
| Floods | 36 | 33 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $981K | 13 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 17 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $49K | 60 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 14 | 1957-2025 | 6 | 47 | $41M | 69 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 12 | 12 | 2002-2017 | 0 | 1 | $108K | 45 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 60 of 159 |
| Lightning | 8 | 7 | 2003-2019 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 49 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2001-2009 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 75 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2002-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2012-2013 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 17 of 159 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 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 Gordon County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Gordon County from 1957 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 6 deaths and 47 injuries recorded in the county. That is 69th 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 19 tornadoes whose track touched Gordon 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 19 people, 6 of them in Gordon County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 16:40, as SPC files it | Resaca to Chatsworth | F4 | 29.5 mi | 9 |
| 1994-03-27 13:01, as SPC files it | Jasper | F3 | 40 mi | 9 |
| 2013-01-30 10:12, as SPC files it | Adairsville | EF3 | 21.78 mi | 1 |
| 2011-12-22 16:03, as SPC files it | Plainville to Calhoun | EF3 | 11.42 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Gordon County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-25 | Redbud, Gordon County | EF1 0.26 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | Reeves, Gordon County | EF1 6.01 mi x 750 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Blackwood, Gordon County | EF0 4.72 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Blackwood, Gordon County | EF0 2.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-03-03 | Farmville, Gordon County | EF1 3.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-02-06 | Bowls, Gordon County | EF0 1.91 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2017-05-24 | Nicklesville, Gordon County | EF0 0.32 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 2017-05-24 | Resaca, Gordon County | EF0 0.28 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2013-01-30 | Blackwood, Gordon County | EF3 16.72 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 8 | $19M |
| 2011-12-22 | Plainville, Gordon County | EF3 9.67 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 4 | $656K |
| 2002-05-01 | Calhoun, Gordon County | F1 1.5 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 1993-02-21 | Calhoun, Gordon County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1985-04-05 | Gordon County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-03-30 | Gordon County | F2 11 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Gordon County | F4 6.6 mi x 150 yd | 6 | 25 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-03-16 | Gordon County | F2 2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1957-04-08 | Gordon County | F2 10.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 5 | $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.
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 Gordon County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 3, 2020 hail ($331,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The public reported hail the size of tennis balls near the intersection of Fairmont Highway and Cash Road, shattering the windshield of a car.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 910963)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtGordon County · forecast zone Gordon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | DroughtGordon County · forecast zone Gordon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormGordon County · forecast zone Gordon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtGordon County · forecast zone Gordon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-14 | HailFarmville, Gordon County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | TornadoRedbud, Gordon County | EF1 0.26 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | TornadoReeves, Gordon County | EF1 6.01 mi x 750 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | TornadoBlackwood, Gordon County | EF0 4.72 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | TornadoBlackwood, Gordon County | EF0 2.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-03-03 | TornadoFarmville, Gordon County | EF1 3.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-08-03 | HailSonoraville, Gordon County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $331K |
| 2020-08-03 | HailFarmville, Gordon County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $331K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoGordon County | F4 6.6 mi x 150 yd | 6 | 25 | $2.5M step |
| 2013-01-30 | TornadoBlackwood, Gordon County The tornado that first touched down in Bartow County continued into Gordon County. Numerous trees and power lines were downed from Redbud to Highway 53 and seven poultry homes were destroyed. In all, 268 homes were impacted: 30 were completely destroyed, 110 had major damage, and another 70 had minor damage. Of these, ... | EF3 16.72 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 8 | $19M |
| 1973-03-16 | TornadoGordon County | F2 2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1957-04-08 | TornadoGordon County | F2 10.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 2011-12-22 | TornadoPlainville, Gordon County A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that the EF0 tornado, that initially touched down in extreme northeast Floyd county and continued across extreme northwest Bartow county, continued into Gordon county. The tornado entered Gordon county about ... | EF3 9.67 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 4 | $656K |
| 2010-01-07 | Winter WeatherGordon County · forecast zone Gordon The Gordon County 911 Center reported from 0.5 inch of snow in the western part of the county to 1.0 inch in the eastern part of the county. Most roads were snow covered and hazardous. Several traffic accidents were observed, with three individuals suffering minor injuries as a result. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1998-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindRanger, Gordon County Straight-line thunderstorm winds from a downburst flattened 4 brand new chicken houses on East Damascus Road. About a mile north a mobile home was ripped from its foundation and destroyed. The 4 mile long damage path began just north of highway 53 and moved north-northeastward to near the Pickens county line. Numerous ... | 0 | 3 | $1.1M | |
| 2014-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindEchota, Gordon County The Gordon County Emergency Manager reported that multiple trees were down. Some power lines down as well, along with vehicle and minor structural damage from falling trees. One woman sustained minor injuries when a tree fell on her car. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $93K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-09-01 | DroughtGordon County · forecast zone Gordon | 0 | 0 | $131M | |
| 2002-05-01 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Gordon County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $19M |
| 2013-01-30 | TornadoBlackwood, Gordon County | EF3 16.72 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 8 | $19M |
| 2011-04-04 | HailResaca, Gordon County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.1M |
| 2008-05-20 | HailOostanaula, Gordon County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1998-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindRanger, Gordon County | 0 | 3 | $1.1M | |
| 1993-02-21 | TornadoCalhoun, Gordon County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2011-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindResaca, Gordon County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $656K |
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, Gordon County, 6 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 Gordon 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 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 43 | 19 | 12 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 14 | 18 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | 14 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 21 | 8 | 3 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 40 · Feb 31 · Mar 32 · Apr 59 · May 65 · Jun 49 · Jul 50 · Aug 41 · Sep 24 · Oct 17 · Nov 9 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gordon County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Gordon County: 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and hurricane (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-05-05 | DR-4600 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011-04-29 | DR-1973 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1974-04-05 | DR-425 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-04-04 | DR-370 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Flooding |
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 Gordon County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 36 flood or flash flood records for Gordon County from 1996 to 2023, on 33 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gordon County ranks 1723rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.8 million on 44 claims filed in Gordon County; the most in one year was 6 in 2021. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1990: 3 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 3 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2026: 3; 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 Gordon County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gordon County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.7 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 High | $6.9M | 31 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.6M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $440K | 62 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.6M | once in about 259 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $9K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $10M | 1.2 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 Gordon 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 Gordon CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gordon County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis