Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hinesville faces more hazard damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hinesville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (80%), then river and rain flooding (16%). Flood insurance has paid 25 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 stands out about Hinesville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hinesville 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 Hinesville’s grade
Hurricanes are 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hinesville, and Hinesville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 16% (lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #263 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hinesville’s residents live in 9 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, Hinesville has more expected damage per building than 100% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $31.9M a year in losses across Hinesville: $28.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hinesville flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hinesville, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Debby4 claims · $35K
- Hurricane Irma1 claim · $8K
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $19K
Hinesville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Liberty County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hinesville
Disasters that paid out in Hinesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hinesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene5,443 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $19K
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby395 households applied for aid$384K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $35K
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,293 households applied for aid$175K aid approved$106K to the City of Hinesville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew712 households applied for aid$116K aid approved$39K to the City of Hinesville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $208
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$22K to the City of Hinesville for repairs
Liberty 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.
Old photos of Hinesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hinesville archive →Hinesville and its neighbors
Hinesville is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Stewart | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | — |
| Hinesville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 25 |
| Walthourville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Flemington | — | not graded yet | |
| Allenhurst | — | 804 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 Hinesville 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.
- Hinesville residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hinesville
Is Hinesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hinesville has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (80%) and river and rain flooding (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hinesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Hinesville since 1980, $189K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (4).
Is Hinesville 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 Liberty County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hinesville?
Hinesville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Hinesville?
By FEMA money that reached Hinesville, Hurricane Helene (2024): 5,443 households applied for aid, $2.7M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 4 paid, $35K.
Is Hinesville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Hinesville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hinesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hinesville’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.