Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home · Photo: Annalisa.frazier · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Augusta than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Augusta gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #122 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then hurricanes (14%). 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 Augusta 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Augusta’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Augusta, and Augusta’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 14% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #122 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Augusta’s residents live in 56 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, Augusta has less expected damage per building than 54% of Georgia towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Augusta has lower expected damage per building than 85% (#62 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $56.8M, is the 217th largest of those 400.
Augusta and its neighbors
Augusta is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beech Island | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hephzibah | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| North Augusta | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Augusta | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Grovetown | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Martinez | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Augusta 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Augusta
Is Augusta at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Augusta has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #122 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Augusta 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.
How much is flood insurance in Augusta?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Augusta’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Augusta at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Augusta’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Augusta.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Augusta’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.