Long County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13183 · population 16,069 · 400 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 246 records for Long County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 186 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (128 records). The deadliest single record is the April 9, 1998 tornado: 3 deaths, 24 injuries and $362,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1966, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 30, 2024.
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
- 246on 186 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 328 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 2024
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 Long County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 128 since 1971. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 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 | 128 | 102 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 2 | $208K | 109 of 159 |
| Hail | 51 | 33 | 1967-2025 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 102 of 159 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 1996-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 126 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 9 | 9 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $241K | 130 of 159 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 101 of 159 |
| Floods | 6 | 5 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 147 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 4 | 2004-2013 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 96 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 4 | 1974-2020 | 3 | 26 | $532K | 156 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | 14 of 159 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2020-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 106 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 3 | 3 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 146 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 135 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 Long County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Long County from 1974 to 2020, the strongest rated F2, with 3 deaths and 26 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Long County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 3 of them in Long County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-04-09 04:35, as SPC files it | Hinesville to Richmond Hill | F2 | 24.5 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Long County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-13 | Walthourville, Long County | EF1 3.2 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | Bayview, Long County | EF0 0.36 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-10-27 | Donald, Long County | EF0 0.03 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 1998-04-09 | Donald, Long County | F2 2.5 mi x 400 yd | 3 | 24 | $362K |
| 1974-05-12 | Long County | F2 0.6 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 2 | $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.
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 Long County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBayview, Long County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-12 | LightningAimar, Long County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-08-21 | Thunderstorm WindBayview, Long County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-14 | Thunderstorm WindBayview, Long County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-26 | HailBayview, Long County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter StormLong County · forecast zone Long | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoWalthourville, Long County | EF1 3.2 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoBayview, Long County | EF0 0.36 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindAimar, Long County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindBayview, Long County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $13K |
| 2011-03-24 | WildfireLong County · forecast zone Long | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2009-10-27 | TornadoDonald, Long County | EF0 0.03 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-04-09 | TornadoDonald, Long County Tornado touched down in the Rye Patch Community where 3 people died (all were in mobile homes).Ten mobile homes were destroyed and two others were damaged along with a roof blown off a block house. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off above the ground. | F2 2.5 mi x 400 yd | 3 | 24 | $362K |
| 1974-05-12 | TornadoLong County | F2 0.6 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2012-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindBayview, Long County Law Enforcement reported on tree down on top of a house along Cottage Street. One woman was trapped inside with unknown injuries. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $13K |
| 2009-10-27 | Thunderstorm WindDonald, Long County A county official reported numerous trees and powerlines down on Highway 196. A tree also fell onto a car at the intersection of Flowers Road and Highway 196 with one person sustaining minor injuries. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $21K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-03-24 | WildfireLong County · forecast zone Long | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 1998-04-09 | TornadoDonald, Long County | F2 2.5 mi x 400 yd | 3 | 24 | $362K |
| 2009-10-27 | Thunderstorm WindDonald, Long County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $21K |
| 2009-10-27 | TornadoDonald, Long County | EF0 0.03 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2026-06-12 | LightningAimar, Long County | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 12, 1974 (tornado, Long 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 Long 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 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 34 | 56 | 15 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 8 | 9 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 8 · Feb 6 · Mar 16 · Apr 31 · May 42 · Jun 60 · Jul 28 · Aug 23 · Sep 12 · Oct 8 · Nov 7 · Dec 5 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Long County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Long County: 8 major disasters, 9 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (9) and tropical storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4821 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024-08-05 | EM-3607 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-01 | EM-3422 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-10-08 | DR-4284 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2016-10-06 | EM-3379 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2011-03-25 | FM-2875 | Fire | Elan Church Road Fire |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
| 1966-03-14 | DR-214 | Flood | 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 Long County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Long County from 2004 to 2024, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Long County ranks 2155th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $383,000 on 17 claims filed in Long County; the most in one year was 13 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2015: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2024: 13; 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 Long County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Long County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $2.2M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $354K | 8.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $130K | 72 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $119K | once in about 727 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $153K | once in about 514 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $510K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | $368 | once in about 83 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $3K | 21 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Long 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 Long CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Long County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis