Photo: Amesmultimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Adairsville than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Adairsville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #123 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then tornadoes (23%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Adairsville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Adairsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Adairsville, and Adairsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 23%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #123 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Adairsville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Georgia town has lower expected damage than 72% of U.S. towns; within the state, Adairsville has less expected damage per building than 54% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Adairsville: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Adairsville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Adairsville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Adairsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bartow County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Adairsville
Disasters that paid out in Adairsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Adairsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding10 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$3K to the City of Adairsville for repairs
Bartow County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Adairsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Adairsville archive →Get ready for what Adairsville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Adairsville
Is Adairsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Adairsville has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #123 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and tornadoes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Adairsville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Bartow County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Adairsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Adairsville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Adairsville?
By FEMA money that reached Adairsville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding (2011): 10 households applied for aid, $30K approved.
Is Adairsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Adairsville’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Adairsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Adairsville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.