Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Swainsboro faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swainsboro gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #178 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then hurricanes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1990.
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 Swainsboro 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
Earthquakes
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 Swainsboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Swainsboro, and Swainsboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 35% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B #178 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Swainsboro’s residents live in 5 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, Swainsboro has more expected damage per building than 67% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Swainsboro: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Swainsboro flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Swainsboro, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Swainsboro isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Emanuel County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Swainsboro
Disasters that paid out in Swainsboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Swainsboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene4,372 households applied for aid$6.0M aid approved$801K to the City of Swainsboro for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Michael$118K to the City of Swainsboro for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma2 households applied for aid$500 aid approved$157K to the City of Swainsboro for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$68K to the City of Swainsboro for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Tornadoes33 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Emanuel County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Swainsboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swainsboro archive →Get ready for what Swainsboro 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Swainsboro
Is Swainsboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swainsboro has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #178 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and hurricanes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Swainsboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Swainsboro since 1990, $12K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Swainsboro 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 Emanuel County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Swainsboro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swainsboro’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 Swainsboro?
By FEMA money that reached Swainsboro, Hurricane Helene (2024): 4,372 households applied for aid, $6.0M approved, and $801K to the City of Swainsboro for repairs.
Is Swainsboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Swainsboro’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swainsboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swainsboro’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.