Eureka Club-Farr's Point · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Wilmington Island than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington Island gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #250 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (74%), then river and rain flooding (11%). Flood insurance has paid 73 claims here since 1983.
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 Wilmington Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wilmington Island 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
Coastal 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 Wilmington Island’s grade
Hurricanes are 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilmington Island, and Wilmington Island’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #250 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilmington Island’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, Wilmington Island has more expected damage per building than 95% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Wilmington Island: $9.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilmington Island flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilmington Island, from FEMA’s records: 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irma17 claims · $326K
- Hurricane Matthew11 claims · $25K
- Hurricane Elsa7 claims · $191K
Wilmington Island isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chatham County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Wilmington Island
Disasters that paid out in Wilmington Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to Wilmington Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene11 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Chatham County has had 12 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 Wilmington Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilmington Island archive →Wilmington Island and its neighbors
Wilmington Island has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Island | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 73 |
| Whitemarsh Island | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 29 |
| Talahi Island | — | 961 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 Wilmington Island 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Wilmington Island
Is Wilmington Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington Island has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #250 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (74%) and river and rain flooding (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilmington Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Wilmington Island since 1983, $783K in all, or 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (17).
Is Wilmington Island 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 Chatham County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 20.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wilmington Island?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilmington Island’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 Wilmington Island?
By FEMA money that reached Wilmington Island, Hurricane Helene (2024): 11 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 17 paid, $326K.
Is Wilmington Island at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Wilmington Island’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilmington Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilmington Island’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.