Water Damage and Flooding Statistics in Georgia

The state of Georgia experiences its share of flooding as every county in Georgia can be affected.  In fact, 75% of the counties in Georgia have experienced severe enough flooding in the last 15-20 years to warrant a declaration of a federal disaster.  The most common type of natural disaster in Georgia is thunderstorms and as climate change causes more rain and rising sea levels, the risk of flooding in Georgia will only increase.

The main causes of flooding in Georgia include flash floods, heavy rainfall, river overflow, and dam and levee failure.  Coastal flooding is expected to become more of an issue as climate change continues to raise the sea level and make tropical storms and hurricanes more intense.  Homes and infrastructure along the coast are at greater risk and may experience more flooding events in the coming years.

Flash Flooding in Georgia

Flash flooding is a major problem in the state of Georgia.  There were 159 flash flooding events reported in Georgia in 2023 that resulted in $2.3 million in property damage according to NOAA statistics.  Flash flooding in Georgia is usually caused by unexpected or heavy rainfall and they can affect urban and rural areas.  In rural areas, flash flooding can destroy crops and kill livestock as well as damage homes and buildings.  Flash flooding in urban areas can flood streets and the ground floor of buildings and disrupt transportation.

Flood Facts for Georgia

Residents of Georgia are encouraged to get flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program as every county in Georgia can be affected by flooding.  The following are some facts about flooding in Georgia from Georgia Flood Insurance:

• 119 of Georgia’s 159 counties were affected by flooding from severe storms in 1998.
• Several counties in northern Georgia experienced 500-year floods, which are floods that are so large that they have a 1 in 500 chance of occurring within a given year, due to continuous rain in September 2009.
• The 500-year floods of September 2009 caused $500 million in damage across 23 counties.
• The only road to Tybee Island, GA is under the sea at several points during the year due to rising sea levels caused by climate change.
• If sea levels continue to rise, coastal regions of Georgia could experience three times the number of tidal floods by 2030.
• Tidal flooding is typically never more than a foot or two, but this is enough to destroy vehicles, flood homes and buildings, disrupt traffic, poison water wells with salt, and damage lawns, forests, and farmland.
• The warming climate along the East Coast is expected to make hurricanes and tropical storms more intense with higher rainfall and increased wind speed.

Water damage and flooding can have serious consequences for affected homes and businesses because of how the water spreads.  If your property is affected by flooding or water damage, you must call a local water damage restoration professional immediately.

Fire Damage Statistics in Georgia

Home and structure fires in Georgia are unfortunately more deadly compared to national averages.  According to NFIRS data from 2021, there was a rate of 2.4 deaths and 4.9 injuries per 1000 fires compared to national averages of 2.3 deaths and 7.2 injuries.  For residential fires specifically, there were 7.4 deaths and 13.9 injuries per 1000 fires compared to national averages of 6.5 deaths and 20.9 injuries.

The following are the death percentages for each type of fire in Georgia compared to national averages:

• Structure fires: 76.2% (national average: 74.5%)
• Residential structure fires: 76.2% (national average: 70.9%)
• Vehicles: 23.8% (national average: 21.2%)
• Outside: 0% (national average: 3.0%)

The following are the injury percentages for each type of fire compared to the national averages:

• Structure fires: 81% (national average: 82%)
• Residential structure fires: 72.2% (national average: 74.1%)
• Vehicles: 13.5% (national average: 9.2%)
• Outside: 5.6% (national average: 5.7%)

The following are the firefighter injury percentages for each type of fire compared to national averages:

• Structure fires: 88.2% (national average: 79%)
• Residential structure fires: 66.7% (national average: 56.7%)
• Vehicles: 4.3% (national average: 7%)
• Outside: 7.5% (national average: 13%)

Early in 2023, Georgia had the second most fire deaths that year and ended 2023 with 75 home fire fatalities.  Being prepared for the possibility of a fire and evacuating immediately when a fire occurs can help prevent injuries and fatalities.

Wildfires in Georgia

Georgia is one of the U.S. states that is routinely affected by wildfires.  Around two million acres are burned with prescribed burning each year to burn away growth that can fuel more severe wildfires.  The controlled burning helps protect native and endangered plants and animals by boosting the health of the ecosystem and reducing the risk of out-of-control wildfires.  In the 1990s, Georgia experienced up to 600 wildfires per year but in 2023, there were only 51 wildfires.

Those who live in areas near wildfires should be aware of the danger to their homes and know what to do to protect their property.  If your home or business is affected by any type of fire, make sure you call a fire damage restoration contractor immediately to start restoring the damage.

Water and Fire Damage Restoration Services in Georgia

Fire and water are common causes of property damage and the damage they cause can be devastating.  There are water damage and fire damage restoration contractors throughout the state of Georgia that use advanced restoration methods and equipment to completely restore homes and businesses affected by fire and flooding and they are available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

You can find a local disaster restoration contractor in Georgia by calling (888) 915-7197.

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