Photo: Bill Golladay · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Byron faces less hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Byron gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #13 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2016.
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 stands out about Byron’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Byron 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
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 Byron’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Byron, and Byron’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #13 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Byron’s residents live in 4 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, Byron has less expected damage per building than 95% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Byron: $711K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Byron flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2016
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Byron, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Byron isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Peach County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Byron
Disasters that paid out in Byron itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Byron), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$750 to the City of Byron for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes13 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances$12K to the City of Byron for repairs
Peach County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Byron after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Byron archive →Byron and its neighbors
Byron has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Warner Robins | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 81 |
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 Byron 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.
- 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 Byron
Is Byron at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Byron has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #13 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Byron flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Byron since 2016, $60K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Byron 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 Peach County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Byron?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Byron’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 Byron?
By FEMA money that reached Byron, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2007): 13 households applied for aid, $30K approved.
Is Byron at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Byron’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Byron.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Byron’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.