Treutlen County Courthouse · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Soperton 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, Soperton gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #199 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then hurricanes (31%). 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 Soperton 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
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 Soperton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Soperton, and Soperton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 31% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #199 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Soperton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Georgia town has lower expected damage than 72% of U.S. towns; within the state, Soperton has more expected damage per building than 75% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $900K a year in losses across Soperton: $574K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Soperton flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Soperton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Soperton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Treutlen County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Soperton
Disasters that paid out in Soperton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Soperton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene1,893 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$3.7M to the City of Soperton for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Michael$68K to the City of Soperton for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma$47K to the City of Soperton for repairs
Treutlen County has had 13 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 Soperton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Soperton archive →Get ready for what Soperton 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.
- 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 Soperton
Is Soperton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Soperton has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #199 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and hurricanes (31%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Soperton 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 Treutlen County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Soperton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Soperton’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 Soperton?
By FEMA money that reached Soperton, Hurricane Helene (2024): 1,893 households applied for aid, $3.2M approved, and $3.7M to the City of Soperton for repairs.
Is Soperton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Soperton’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Soperton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Soperton’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.