St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church · Photo: Blastoids · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Hawkinsville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawkinsville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #168 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then hurricanes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1994.
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 Hawkinsville 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 Hawkinsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hawkinsville, and Hawkinsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 18% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #168 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hawkinsville’s residents live in 3 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, Hawkinsville has more expected damage per building than 63% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Hawkinsville: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hawkinsville flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hawkinsville, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Alberto3 claims · $29K
Hawkinsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pulaski County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hawkinsville
Disasters that paid out in Hawkinsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hawkinsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Michael$54K to the City of Hawkinsville for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$19K to the City of Hawkinsville for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances$16K to the City of Hawkinsville for repairs
Pulaski County has had 10 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 Hawkinsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hawkinsville archive →Get ready for what Hawkinsville 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 Hawkinsville
Is Hawkinsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawkinsville has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #168 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and hurricanes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hawkinsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Hawkinsville since 1994, $80K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Alberto (3).
Is Hawkinsville 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 Pulaski County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hawkinsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hawkinsville’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 Hawkinsville?
By FEMA money that reached Hawkinsville, Hurricane Michael (2018): $54K to the City of Hawkinsville for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Alberto: 3 paid, $29K.
Is Hawkinsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Hawkinsville’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hawkinsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hawkinsville’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.