Solomon and Penelopy Pace House · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Vinings 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, Vinings gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #183 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 285 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Vinings’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vinings 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
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 Vinings’ grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vinings, and Vinings’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #183 of 264 in Georgia; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vinings’ 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, Vinings has more expected damage per building than 69% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Vinings: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vinings flood? Yes: 285 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vinings, from FEMA’s records: 33.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms74 claims · $15.0M
- Hurricane Helene45 claims · $3.0M
- Tropical Storm Ivan45 claims · $2.9M
Vinings isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cobb County.The storms Vinings remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Cobb County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Vinings itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200974 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Cobb County
- 200445 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Ivan, declared for Cobb County
- 202445 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Helene, declared for Cobb County
Cobb County has had 15 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 Vinings after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vinings archive →Vinings and its neighbors
Vinings is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1,759 |
| Vinings | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 285 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Vinings 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.
- 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 Vinings
Is Vinings at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vinings has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #183 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vinings flood?
Flood insurance has paid 285 claims in Vinings since 1979, $23.4M in all, or 33.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late summer storms (74).
Is Vinings 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 Cobb County, 85% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Vinings?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vinings’ 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 Vinings?
By flood claims, Late summer storms: 74 paid, $15.0M.
Is Vinings at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Vinings’ rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vinings.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vinings’ 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.