Paulding County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13223 · population 168,657 · 312 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 490 records for Paulding County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 334 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (226 records). The deadliest single record is the September 12, 2023 lightning: 1 death. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1966, 17 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
- 490on 334 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 217 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $42Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Paulding County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 226 since 1958. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 226 | 134 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.9M | 41 of 159 |
| Hail | 78 | 66 | 1974-2025 | 0 | 0 | $8.2M | 33 of 159 |
| Drought | 41 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 45 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 37 | 37 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 33 of 159 |
| Floods | 28 | 15 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | 54 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 17 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $48K | 44 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 159 |
| Lightning | 13 | 13 | 2000-2023 | 2 | 6 | $1.4M | 20 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 10 | $21M | 90 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 1998-2017 | 0 | 0 | $442K | 50 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 97 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 Paulding County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Paulding County from 1956 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 10 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Paulding County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Paulding County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 16:50, as SPC files it | Tallapoosa to EmersonCrossed AL, GA | F2 | 65.9 mi | 1 |
| 2012-03-02 19:09, as SPC files it | Dallas | EF3 | 29.02 mi | 0 |
| 1971-04-23 14:55, as SPC files it | Shellman | F3 | 13.9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Paulding County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-15 | Rollins, Paulding County | EF1 11.64 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-01-11 | Brock, Paulding County | EF0 2.07 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2012-03-02 | Beulah, Paulding County | EF2 14.05 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $14M |
| 2005-08-29 | Nebo, Paulding County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $604K |
| 1983-12-03 | Paulding County | F1 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-04-08 | Paulding County | F1 4.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Paulding County | F2 16.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 8 | – |
| 1973-12-29 | Paulding County | F1 5.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-04-23 | Paulding County | F3 10.6 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1956-04-15 | Paulding County | F2 46.8 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Paulding 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 WindNew Hope, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindPicketts Mill, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindUnion, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindDivide, Paulding County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindUnion, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBeulah, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindUnion, Paulding County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-09 | Thunderstorm WindOberlochen, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-09 | Thunderstorm WindSudie, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | DroughtPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-12 | LightningCrowville, Paulding County Lightning struck a person while playing golf on September 12, 2023. Unfortunately, the person passed away several days later. Very little media attention existed at the time of occurrence. A reporter from St. Louis was doing a follow-up story on this with the family and notified the appropriate NWS personnel months ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2004-05-17 | LightningHiram, Paulding County The Atlanta-Journal/Constitution reported that a 37-year old male was struck and killed by lightning while outside working at the Metromont Materials Concrete Plant. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoPaulding County | F2 16.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 8 | – |
| 2009-09-20 | LightningDallas, Paulding County Paulding County Emergency Management personnel reported that at least ten lightning strike incidents were documented across the county during the late evening and early morning hours of thunderstorms and flash flooding. At least two of the lightning strikes resulted in structural fires. In addition, two Paulding ... | 0 | 2 | $413K | |
| 2022-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindOberlochen, Paulding County Report of tree down on car near intersection of Bakers Bridge Rd and Rocky Ridge Rd. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2015-11-18 | LightningSudie, Paulding County A local Atlanta television news station reported a man injured by a lightning strike near Meadow Lark after lightning struck a nearby power line and travelled through the ground to where the man was standing. The injuries were reported to be minor. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2009-08-21 | LightningBraswell, Paulding County The Paulding County Emergency Management Director reported that at least nine homes across the county were struck by lightning. Two of these lightning strikes resulted in fires and damage to the structures. In addition, one individual approximately three miles north-northeast of New Georgia was injured as a result of ... | 0 | 1 | $344K | |
| 2000-07-30 | LightningDallas, Paulding County Channel 2 (WSB TV) in Atlanta reported that a child was struck and injured by lightning. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoBeulah, Paulding County | EF2 14.05 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $14M |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodUnion, Paulding County | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtBartow County and Paulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2011-04-04 | HailHiram, Paulding County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2011-06-15 | HailYorkville, Paulding County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodUnion, Paulding County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2017-04-05 | HailUnion, Paulding County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.7M |
| 1994-06-26 | HailHiram, Paulding County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $995K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 23, 1971 (tornado, Paulding County); April 15, 1956 (tornado, Paulding County); December 29, 1973 (tornado, Paulding 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 Paulding 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 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 25 | 27 | 38 | 125 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 29 | 15 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 15 | 5 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 13 | 16 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 4 | 12 |
| 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 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 30 · Mar 49 · Apr 48 · May 38 · Jun 79 · Jul 67 · Aug 55 · Sep 37 · Oct 14 · Nov 19 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Paulding County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Paulding County: 10 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2021-01-12 | 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 |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-09-24 | DR-1858 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and 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 |
| 1984-05-11 | EM-3089 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
| 1974-04-05 | DR-425 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 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 Paulding County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Paulding County from 1997 to 2021, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Paulding County ranks 1629th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $892,000 on 54 claims filed in Paulding County; the most in one year was 33 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2004: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 33 · 2011: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2024: 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 Paulding County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Paulding County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $39.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.3M | 62 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $9.2M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.1M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $21M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $222K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $870K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $945K | once in about 378 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $169K | once in about 615 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Paulding 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 Paulding CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Paulding County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis