Vienna Historic District · Photo: Blastoids · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Vienna faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vienna gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #219 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then hurricanes (20%). 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 Vienna 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
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 Vienna’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vienna, and Vienna’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 20% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C #219 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Vienna’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, Vienna has more expected damage per building than 83% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Vienna: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vienna flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Vienna. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Vienna isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dooly County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vienna
Disasters that paid out in Vienna itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Vienna), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Hurricane Michael11 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$3K to the City of Vienna for repairs
- 1999Severe Storms and Tornadoes$1.7M to the City of Vienna for repairs
Dooly County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Vienna after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vienna archive →Get ready for what Vienna 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.
- 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 Vienna
Is Vienna at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vienna has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #219 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and hurricanes (20%). 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 Vienna 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 Dooly County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Vienna?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vienna’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 Vienna?
By FEMA money that reached Vienna, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (1999): $1.7M to the City of Vienna for repairs.
Is Vienna at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Vienna’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vienna.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vienna’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.