States › Georgia › Ben Hill County
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Ben Hill County, Georgia, has 219 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950, most of them damaging wind.
That is 87.6 events per 100 square miles, in line with the Georgia figure of 98.3, and 127.6 per 10,000 residents against 52.5 statewide.
16 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 0 deaths and 9 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $19M and crop damage at $108M.
FEMA has designated the county in 15 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Hurricane Helene (major disaster, 30 Sep 2024).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 22 claims since 1978, of which 15 were paid, totalling $179K (about $12K per paid claim). FEMA counts 19 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Very Low" and its expected annual loss as "Very Low" ($5.2M a year across 18 hazards).
83 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 6 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Georgia and the United States
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 219 | 56,743 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 87.6 | 98.3 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 127.6 | 52.5 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 16 | 1,541 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 0 | 447 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $19M | $8.7B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 2.3 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $12K | $29K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 10.5 | 10.3 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 127 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 53 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 2024 | Hurricane (Typhoon) | Tropical | — | $10M | $100M | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Oct 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 98 mph | $5.0M | $500K | — | 4 | County |
| 14 Jun 1963 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 6 Aug 2015 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $5K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Mar 2017 | Frost/Freeze | Cold | — | — | $7.8M | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Sep 2017 | Tropical Storm | Tropical | — | $500K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2006 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1961 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 1983 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1983 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2000 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Tropical Storm | Tropical | — | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2023 | Tropical Storm | Tropical | — | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2009 | Tornado | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2005 | Hurricane (Typhoon) | Tropical | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2019 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 2021 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 2024 | DR-4830 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Sep 2024 | EM-3616 | Emergency | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene | Public assistance |
| 5 Aug 2024 | EM-3607 | Emergency | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby | Public assistance |
| 29 Mar 2020 | DR-4501 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3464 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 14 Oct 2018 | DR-4400 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael | Public assistance |
| 10 Oct 2018 | EM-3406 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael | Public assistance |
| 15 Sep 2017 | DR-4338 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma | Public assistance |
| 8 Sep 2017 | EM-3387 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma | Public assistance |
| 23 Apr 2009 | DR-1833 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 5 Sep 2005 | EM-3218 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 24 Sep 2004 | DR-1560 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances | Public assistance |
| 11 Mar 1998 | DR-1209 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 15 Mar 1993 | EM-3097 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 20 Jul 1977 | EM-3044 | Emergency | Drought | Drought | Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | $20,451 | $20,451 |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | $13,242 | $13,242 |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | $12,671 | $12,671 |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | $5,908 | $5,908 |
| 2003 | 3 | 3 | $15,857 | $5,286 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | $1,469 | $1,469 |
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | $72,533 | $18,133 |
| 1997 | 4 | 2 | $7,309 | $3,655 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $1,688,914 | |
| Tornado | $1,276,025 | |
| Hurricane | $811,306 | |
| Cold wave | $409,722 | |
| Earthquake | $260,425 | |
| Strong wind | $237,083 | |
| Drought | $190,798 | |
| Heat wave | $153,798 | |
| Lightning | $138,295 | |
| Hail | $54,950 | |
| Wildfire | $18,562 | |
| Winter weather | $4,648 | |
| Ice storm | $2,904 | |
| Landslide | $2 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debby | 2024 | 82 mi | 58 mph |
| Helene | 2024 | 32 mi | 109 mph |
| Idalia | 2023 | 42 mi | 69 mph |
| Elsa | 2021 | 31 mi | 52 mph |
| Mindy | 2021 | 97 mi | 40 mph |
| Nestor | 2019 | 72 mi | 40 mph |
| Michael | 2018 | 73 mi | 92 mph |
| Irma | 2017 | 62 mi | 52 mph |
| Colin | 2016 | 95 mi | 52 mph |
| Hermine | 2016 | 31 mi | 69 mph |
| Alberto | 2006 | 37 mi | 40 mph |
| Tammy | 2005 | 37 mi | 40 mph |
| Frances | 2004 | 100 mi | 40 mph |
| Jeanne | 2004 | 63 mi | 40 mph |
| Earl | 1998 | 59 mi | 52 mph |
| Josephine | 1996 | 77 mi | 52 mph |
| Allison | 1995 | 82 mi | 52 mph |
| Kate | 1985 | 27 mi | 75 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1976 | 85 mi | 46 mph |
| Alma | 1970 | 91 mi | 40 mph |
| Abby | 1968 | 70 mi | 46 mph |
| Alma | 1966 | 45 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1965 | 73 mi | 46 mph |
| Dora | 1964 | 18 mi | 69 mph |
| Hilda | 1964 | 64 mi | 52 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 31750 22
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Ben Hill County, GA?
NCEI records 22 hail events in Ben Hill County since 1950, in 15 different years; that is about 0.3 recorded events a year. 6 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Ben Hill County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 14 tornadoes in Ben Hill County since 1950, 3 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Ben Hill County?
30 Sep 2024: Hurricane Helene, a major disaster declaration for hurricane. The county appears in 15 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Ben Hill County, and how much was paid?
22 NFIP claims since 1978, 15 of them paid, for $179K in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Ben Hill County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Very Low" for overall risk, "Very Low" for expected annual loss, "Very High" for social vulnerability and "Very Low" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Ben Hill County compare with the rest of Georgia?
87.6 recorded events per 100 square miles against 98.3 statewide, and 1.3 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 2.3. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.