Charlton County Courthouse · Photo: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Folkston’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Folkston gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #244 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (74%), then river and rain flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1998.
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 Folkston faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Folkston’s grade
Hurricanes are 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Folkston, and Folkston’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #244 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Folkston’s residents live in 2 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, Folkston has more expected damage per building than 92% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Folkston: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Folkston flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Folkston, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Folkston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Charlton County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Folkston
Disasters that paid out in Folkston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Folkston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene741 households applied for aid$551K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma583 households applied for aid$186K aid approved$36K to the City of Folkston for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds12 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances$71K to the City of Folkston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Charlton County has had 11 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.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Charlton County, 2007–2017.
Old photos of Folkston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Folkston archive →Folkston and its neighbors
Folkston has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkston | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 5 |
| Homeland | — | 755 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Folkston faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Folkston
Is Folkston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Folkston has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #244 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (74%) and river and rain flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Folkston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Folkston since 1998, $168K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Folkston 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 Charlton County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Folkston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Folkston’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 Folkston?
By FEMA money that reached Folkston, Hurricane Helene (2024): 741 households applied for aid, $551K approved.
Is Folkston at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Folkston’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Folkston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Folkston’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.