Statham Historic District · Photo: Gwringle · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Statham’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Statham gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #48 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (12%). 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 Statham 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
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 Statham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Statham, and Statham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A #48 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Statham’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, Statham has less expected damage per building than 82% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $446K a year in losses across Statham: $306K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Statham flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Statham. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Statham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Barrow County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Statham
Disasters that paid out in Statham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Statham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Irma$17K to the City of Statham for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$26K to the City of Statham for repairs
Barrow County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Statham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Statham archive →Get ready for what Statham 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.
- 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 Statham
Is Statham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Statham has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #48 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Statham 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 Barrow County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Statham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Statham’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 Statham?
By FEMA money that reached Statham, Severe Winter Storm (2000): $26K to the City of Statham for repairs.
Is Statham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Statham’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Statham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Statham’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.