Less hazard damage per building is expected in Panthersville than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Panthersville gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #84 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1983.
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 Panthersville 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
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 Panthersville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Panthersville, and Panthersville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #84 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Panthersville’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, Panthersville has less expected damage per building than 68% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Panthersville: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Panthersville flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Panthersville, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Panthersville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: DeKalb County.The storms Panthersville remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for DeKalb County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Panthersville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19831 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20191 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20201 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
DeKalb County has had 13 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 Panthersville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Panthersville archive →Panthersville and its neighbors
Panthersville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthersville | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Gresham Park | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Candler-McAfee | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Panthersville 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.
- 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 Panthersville
Is Panthersville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Panthersville has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #84 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Panthersville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Panthersville since 1983, $22K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Panthersville 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 DeKalb County, 72% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Panthersville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Panthersville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Panthersville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Panthersville’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Panthersville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Panthersville’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.