FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Candler-McAfee as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Candler-McAfee gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #179 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 38 claims here since 1980.
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 Candler-McAfee 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
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 Candler-McAfee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Candler-McAfee, and Candler-McAfee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #179 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Candler-McAfee’s residents live in 7 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, Candler-McAfee has more expected damage per building than 68% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Candler-McAfee: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Candler-McAfee flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Candler-McAfee, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan6 claims · $36K
- The Late summer storms6 claims · $92K
- Hurricane Dennis1 claim · $6K
Candler-McAfee isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: DeKalb County.The storms Candler-McAfee remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for DeKalb County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Candler-McAfee itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20097 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for DeKalb County
- 20046 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Ivan, declared for DeKalb County
- 19904 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
DeKalb County has had 13 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 Candler-McAfee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Candler-McAfee archive →Candler-McAfee and its neighbors
Candler-McAfee is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1,759 |
| Panthersville | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Belvedere Park | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Candler-McAfee | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Candler-McAfee 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.
- 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 Candler-McAfee
Is Candler-McAfee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Candler-McAfee has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #179 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Candler-McAfee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Candler-McAfee since 1980, $278K in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (6).
Is Candler-McAfee 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 DeKalb County, 72% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Candler-McAfee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Candler-McAfee’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 Candler-McAfee?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 6 paid, $36K.
Is Candler-McAfee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Candler-McAfee’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Candler-McAfee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Candler-McAfee’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.