Effingham County Jail · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Springfield than in 80% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springfield gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #235 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (45%), then river and rain flooding (44%). 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 Springfield 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
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 Springfield’s grade
Hurricanes are 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Springfield, and Springfield’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #235 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Springfield’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, Springfield has more expected damage per building than 89% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $963K a year in losses across Springfield: $766K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Springfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Springfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Springfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Effingham County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Springfield
Disasters that paid out in Springfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Springfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene986 households applied for aid$412K aid approved$87K to the City of Springfield for repairs
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby92 households applied for aid$102K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma$35K to the City of Springfield for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew177 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$35K to the City of Springfield for repairs
Effingham County has had 10 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 Springfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Springfield archive →Get ready for what Springfield 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.
- 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 Springfield
Is Springfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springfield has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #235 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (45%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Springfield 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 Effingham County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Springfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Springfield’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 Springfield?
By FEMA money that reached Springfield, Hurricane Helene (2024): 986 households applied for aid, $412K approved, and $87K to the City of Springfield for repairs.
Is Springfield at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Springfield’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Springfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Springfield’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.