Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Walthourville than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walthourville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (80%), then river and rain flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1998.
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 Walthourville 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
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 Walthourville’s grade
Hurricanes are 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walthourville, and Walthourville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 17% (higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #264 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Walthourville’s residents live in 4 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, Walthourville has more expected damage per building than 100% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Walthourville: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walthourville flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Walthourville, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Walthourville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Liberty County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Walthourville
Disasters that paid out in Walthourville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Walthourville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene46 households applied for aid$47K aid approved
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby4 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
- 2016Hurricane Matthew19 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Liberty County has had 11 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 Walthourville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walthourville archive →Walthourville and its neighbors
Walthourville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinesville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 25 |
| Walthourville | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Allenhurst | — | 804 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Walthourville 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.
- 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 Walthourville
Is Walthourville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walthourville has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (80%) and river and rain flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Walthourville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Walthourville since 1998, $6K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Walthourville 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 Liberty County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Walthourville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walthourville’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 Walthourville?
By FEMA money that reached Walthourville, Hurricane Helene (2024): 46 households applied for aid, $47K approved.
Is Walthourville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Walthourville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walthourville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walthourville’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.