FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Grovetown than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grovetown gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #160 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.
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 Grovetown 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
Hurricanes
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 Grovetown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grovetown, and Grovetown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #160 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grovetown’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, Grovetown has more expected damage per building than 60% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Grovetown: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grovetown flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grovetown, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Grovetown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grovetown
Disasters that paid out in Grovetown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Grovetown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene13,577 households applied for aid$11.6M aid approved$2.0M to the City of Grovetown for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma$52K to the City of Grovetown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$44K to the City of Grovetown for repairs
Columbia County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Grovetown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grovetown archive →Grovetown and its neighbors
Grovetown is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Grovetown | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Grovetown 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.
- 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.
- 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 Grovetown
Is Grovetown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grovetown has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #160 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grovetown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Grovetown since 2017, $1K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Grovetown 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 Columbia County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Grovetown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grovetown’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 Grovetown?
By FEMA money that reached Grovetown, Hurricane Helene (2024): 13,577 households applied for aid, $11.6M approved, and $2.0M to the City of Grovetown for repairs.
Is Grovetown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Grovetown’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grovetown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grovetown’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.