Rabun County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13241 · population 16,845 · 370 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 426 records for Rabun County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 363 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (110 records). 219 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the July 2, 2022 lightning: 1 death. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1974, 19 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 363 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 22 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $22Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Rabun County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 110 since 1996. 63% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 110 | 106 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $988K | 7 of 159 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 109 | 95 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 1 | $31K | 108 of 159 |
| Hail | 61 | 48 | 1984-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 159 |
| Drought | 42 | 42 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 41 | 40 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 2 of 159 |
| Floods | 33 | 29 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $8.6M | 21 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 15 | 15 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $712K | 57 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1973-2021 | 1 | 0 | $9.7M | 145 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1999-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 111 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2020-2024 | 0 | 0 | $188K | 157 of 159 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2004-2006 | 0 | 0 | $156K | 1 of 159 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2010-2022 | 1 | 0 | $677K | 119 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 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 Rabun County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Rabun County from 1973 to 2021, the strongest rated EF3, with 1 death and 0 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Rabun County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 20:30, as SPC files it | Mountain | EF3 | 36.99 mi | 1 |
| 1994-03-27 14:04, as SPC files it | LongcreekCrossed GA, SC | F3 | 28 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Rabun County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-17 | Checkero, Rabun County | EF0 0.02 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Persimmon, Rabun County | EF3 14.17 mi x 900 yd | 1 | 0 | $6.6M |
| 1983-10-12 | Rabun County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-10 | Rabun County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Rabun County | F2 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-27 | Rabun County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $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 Rabun County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 10, 2026 flash flood ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindTiger, Rabun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-10 | Flash FloodClayton, Rabun County | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-06-27 | HailClayton, Rabun County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindCheckero, Rabun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-25 | Thunderstorm WindGrove, Rabun County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-25 | Thunderstorm WindTiger, Rabun County | 50 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-02 | LightningMountain City, Rabun County Emergency manager reported a lightning strike killed a 39-year-old construction worker on Blacks Creek Dr. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoPersimmon, Rabun County The path of an intense tornado, which was likely the continuation of the Habersham County tornado, was found in Rabun County beginning in the Lake Burton area. Damage was first found near a marina on Wildcat Creek Cove. A fire department building near this location was destroyed. As the tornado moved northeast across ... | EF3 14.17 mi x 900 yd | 1 | 0 | $6.6M |
| 2006-01-14 | High WindRabun County · forecast zone Rabun Strong winds developed behind a cold front across the mountains of Georgia during the late morning, and continued through the remainder of the day. There was widespread damage to trees and power lines, with quite a few power outages. A 37-year-old man was injured in Clayton, GA when a tree snapped off and fell on him. ... | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 2004-08-02 | Thunderstorm WindClayton, Rabun County A couple of trees were blown down. One tree fell on a van, causing minor injuries to the driver. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-16 | FloodRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoPersimmon, Rabun County | EF3 14.17 mi x 900 yd | 1 | 0 | $6.6M |
| 2004-09-07 | FloodRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $712K |
| 2007-04-08 | Frost/FreezeRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 0 | 0 | $712K | |
| 2010-05-15 | LightningCheckero, Rabun County | 0 | 0 | $677K | |
| 2004-09-16 | High WindRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $312K |
| 2006-01-14 | High WindRabun County · forecast zone Rabun | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
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 3, 1974 (tornado, Rabun County); June 10, 1982 (tornado, Rabun County); October 12, 1983 (tornado, Rabun 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 Rabun 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 23 | 44 | 33 | 10 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 28 | 34 | 19 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 29 | 15 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 5 | 28 | 7 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 32 | 2 | 1 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 10 | 7 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
63% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 60 · Feb 47 · Mar 31 · Apr 38 · May 35 · Jun 45 · Jul 40 · Aug 35 · Sep 22 · Oct 14 · Nov 19 · Dec 40 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rabun County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Rabun County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) 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 |
| 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 |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 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 |
| 1994-03-31 | DR-1020 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding, and Severe Storms |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1976-06-11 | DR-507 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Rabun County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Rabun County from 1996 to 2026, on 29 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rabun County ranks 1887th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Frances | 2004-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $401,000 on 31 claims filed in Rabun County; the most in one year was 12 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 1 · 2004: 12 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 1; 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 Rabun County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rabun County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.0 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 | $58K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $516K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $101K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $79K | once in about 498 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $170K | once in about 24 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.9M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $741K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Rabun 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
- Winter storms in GeorgiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Rabun CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rabun County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis