Rockmart Downtown Historic District · Photo: Ecto1699 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Rockmart 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, Rockmart gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #188 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (17%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Rockmart 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 Rockmart’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockmart, and Rockmart’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #188 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockmart’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, Rockmart has more expected damage per building than 71% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Rockmart: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockmart flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Rockmart. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Rockmart isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Polk County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockmart
Disasters that paid out in Rockmart itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rockmart), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding41 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$842 aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Tornadoes4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Polk County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Rockmart after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockmart archive →Get ready for what Rockmart 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 Rockmart
Is Rockmart at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockmart has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #188 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Rockmart 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 Polk 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 Rockmart?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockmart’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 Rockmart?
By FEMA money that reached Rockmart, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding (2011): 41 households applied for aid, $7K approved.
Is Rockmart at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Rockmart’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockmart.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockmart’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.