Henry Asbury House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Clarkesville than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarkesville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2018.
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 Clarkesville 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 Clarkesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clarkesville, and Clarkesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clarkesville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $625K a year in losses across Clarkesville: $411K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clarkesville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clarkesville, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Clarkesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Habersham County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clarkesville
Disasters that paid out in Clarkesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clarkesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Zeta$40K to the City of Clarkesville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding26 households applied for aid$511 aid approved
Habersham County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Clarkesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clarkesville archive →Get ready for what Clarkesville 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 Clarkesville
Is Clarkesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarkesville has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clarkesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Clarkesville since 2018, $106K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Clarkesville 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 Habersham County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clarkesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clarkesville’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 Clarkesville?
By FEMA money that reached Clarkesville, Tropical Storm Zeta (2020): $40K to the City of Clarkesville for repairs.
Is Clarkesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Clarkesville’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clarkesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clarkesville’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.