Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Thomas County, GA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
13275
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA, GEMA/HS or any other state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2026-07-26. Plan: Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483), approved 2021-07-27.

Update: FEMA tracker shows a plan in review.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-07-27: 5 new hazard declarations (3 incidents) and 121 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Hurricane ($8,698,505 a year), Inland Flooding ($6,598,518) and Cold Wave ($1,929,694).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2026-07-26
Plan:
Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)
Approved:
2021-07-27
Days since expiry:
66
Update underway:
FEMA tracker shows a plan in review

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-07-27)

New federal declarations:
5 new hazard declarations (3 incidents): DR-4738-GA (Hurricane Idalia), EM-3607-GA (Hurricane Debby), DR-4821-GA (Tropical Storm Debby), EM-3616-GA (Hurricane Helene), DR-4830-GA (Hurricane Helene)
Storm Events records since approval:
121 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 2 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 4
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Thomas County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in review
Barwick cityCityApproved, expires 2029-06-09Brooks County (FEMA plan 109730)2024-06-102029-06-09983FEMA tracker shows a plan in review
Boston cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in reviewthis jurisdiction approved 2021-08-04
Coolidge cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in review
Meigs cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in reviewthis jurisdiction approved 2021-08-04
Ochlocknee townTownExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in review
Pavo cityCityApproved, expires 2029-06-09Brooks County (FEMA plan 109730)2024-06-102029-06-09983FEMA tracker shows a plan in review
Thomasville cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26Thomas County (FEMA plan 107483)2021-07-272026-07-26-66FEMA tracker shows a plan in reviewthis jurisdiction approved 2021-08-04

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification GEMA template A: Hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1HurricaneRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$7,638,781$752,751$306,972$8,698,50514
2Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$6,423,985$7,339$167,194$6,598,51848
3Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$3,081$371,134$1,555,479$1,929,6943Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
4TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$688,850$2,663$341,280$1,032,79313
5LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$32,580n/a$489,286$521,8665
6Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$42$196$481,922$482,1605
7Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$91,041$3,402$168,566$263,009186
8EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$151,870n/a$49,084$200,955Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
9DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$151,619n/a$151,61943
10WildfireRelatively LowRelatively Low$136,447$165$13,965$150,5770No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
11HailVery LowVery Low$31,112$43,269$33,031$107,41240
12Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$13,728$37$7,824$21,5903
13Ice StormVery LowVery Low$253n/a$3,123$3,3760No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14LandslideVery LowVery Low$45n/a$1$460No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9609 (Relatively Low, 54.6); tract 9608 (Relatively Low, 48.4); tract 9605.01 (Relatively Low, 44.9)
Hurricanetract 9608 (Very High, 97.4); tract 9609 (Relatively High, 96.2); tract 9610 (Relatively High, 95.3)
Landslidetract 9608 (Very Low, 71.5); tract 9602 (Very Low, 63.9); tract 9610 (Very Low, 60.1)
Tornadotract 9608 (Relatively High, 74.6); tract 9609 (Relatively Moderate, 68.3); tract 9610 (Relatively Moderate, 63.8)
Wildfiretract 9608 (Relatively Moderate, 92.2); tract 9610 (Relatively Moderate, 92.1); tract 9602 (Relatively Low, 85.8)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9609 is Census Tract 9609). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill2 records, 2025 to 2026 (2 zone-level)1 day; 2 with a recorded value1 consecutive day, 2026-02-01, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2017 (1 zone-level)Frost/Freeze, 2017-03-16, $7,850,000 crop damage (2017 dollars); NWS zone GAZ158Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)43 records, 1997 to 2026 (43 zone-level)16 days to 414 days (median 76 days); 10 with a recorded value414 days (about 13.6 months), 2011-05-10 to 2012-06-26, a run of 14 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)43 records, 1965 to 20250.75 in to 4 in (median 1 in); 43 with a recorded value4 in hail, 1995-01-28Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Thomasville city (11 records), Boston city (5 records), Ochlocknee town (4 records), Coolidge city (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)5 records, 2023 (5 zone-level)2 days to 3 days (median 2.5 days); 2 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2023-08-12 to 2023-08-14, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson14 records, 2002 to 2024 (14 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Hurricane record (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)'), 2024-09-26 to 2024-09-27, category 1, $5,000,000 property; $100,000,000 crops (2024 dollars); NWS zone GAZ158Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)0
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)48 records, 1998 to 2026 (1 zone-level)Flash Flood, 2008-08-23, $1,500,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Thomasville city (24 records), Boston city (2 records). Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)5 records, 1998 to 2012Lightning, 1999-08-08, damage not reported, 1 direct deathLightning, 2003-06-15, $10,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Thomasville city (2 records), Boston city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)0
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)227 records, 1956 to 202645 kt (52 mph) to 65 kt (75 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 179 with a recorded value65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2023-03-25; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 2008-02-26, 2017-02-07Thunderstorm Wind, 2000-06-22, $500,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Thomasville city (62 records), Boston city (16 records), Coolidge city (12 records), Ochlocknee town (10 records), Barwick city (2 records), Pavo city (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)20 records, 1955 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF1); 20 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 2000-02-14, 2 mi within this county, 300 yd wide, $500,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Tornado, 2009-02-19, $10,000,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Thomasville city (2 records), Barwick city (1 record), Boston city (1 record), Coolidge city (1 record), Meigs city (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)3 records, 2014 to 2025 (3 zone-level)No damage reported in 3 records.Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Federal declarations for this county: 20 declarations covering 13 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2024-09-302024-09-24DR-4830-GAMajor disasterHurricane HeleneHurricane$1,989,800.90new since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-09-262024-09-24EM-3616-GAEmergencyHurricane HeleneHurricaneno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4830
2024-09-242024-08-04DR-4821-GAMajor disasterTropical Storm DebbyHurricane$552,642.01new since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-08-052024-08-04EM-3607-GAEmergencyHurricane DebbyHurricaneno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4821
2023-09-072023-08-30DR-4738-GAMajor disasterHurricane IdaliaHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding, Strong Wind, Tornado$793,019new since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-292020-01-20DR-4501-GAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$4,269,747.78
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3464-GAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4501
2018-10-142018-10-09DR-4400-GAMajor disasterHurricane MichaelHurricane$2,503,938.67
2018-10-102018-10-09EM-3406-GAEmergencyHurricane MichaelHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4400
2017-09-152017-09-07DR-4338-GAMajor disasterHurricane IrmaHurricane$433,757.48
2017-09-082017-09-07EM-3387-GAEmergencyHurricane IrmaHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4338
2017-01-262017-01-21DR-4297-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingTornado (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding, Strong Wind$456,269.34
2009-04-232009-03-26DR-1833-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
2005-09-052005-08-27EM-3218-GAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2004-09-242004-09-03DR-1560-GAMajor disasterTropical Storm FrancesHurricane$270,141.84
1998-03-111998-02-14DR-1209-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1994-10-191994-10-01DR-1042-GAMajor disasterHeavy Rains, Tornados, Flooding, High WindsInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-151993-03-13EM-3097-GAEmergencySevere Snowfall, Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1991-03-151991-03-01DR-897-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1977-07-201977-07-20EM-3044-GAEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-11-041964-11-04DR-180-GAMajor disasterFloodingInland Flooding
1964-09-101964-09-10DR-177-GAMajor disasterHurricane DoraHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding
1963-03-261963-03-26DR-150-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1961-03-021961-03-02DR-110-GAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1954-03-171954-03-17DR-16-GAMajor disasterTornadoTornado
1953-05-021953-05-02DR-1-GAMajor disasterTornadoTornado

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave3202001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought4311011101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail4314114001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave5505001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane14404631996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Inland Flooding4833031611996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning5000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind22745744411955 to 2026-06-30
Tornado20616411950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather3101101996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2026-02-01Extreme Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone GAZ158 (THOMAS), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2024-09-26Hurricane (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)')category 1$5,000,000 property; $100,000,000 crops (zone total, 2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ158 (THOMAS), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
2023-08-12Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ158 (THOMAS), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2023-03-25Thunderstorm Wind65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops (2023 dollars)0, 0MERRILLVILLEnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2017-03-16Frost/Freeze$0 property; $7,850,000 crops (zone total, 2017 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ158 (THOMAS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Frost/Freeze
2017-01-22TornadoEF2, 15.4 mi within this county, 700 yd wide$250,000 property; $0 crops (2017 dollars)0, 3PASCO to HOLLISdeaths or injuries recorded
2014-12-24Thunderstorm Wind55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust$15,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)0, 1THOMASVILLE to BOSTONdeaths or injuries recorded
2011-05-10Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone GAZ158 (THOMAS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2008-08-23Flash Flood$1,500,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0EVERETT to METCALFB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2000-02-14TornadoF3, 2 mi within this county, 300 yd wide$500,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)0, 0MEIGSB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
1999-08-08Lightningdamage not reported1, 0THOMASVILLEdeaths or injuries recorded
1995-01-28Hail4 in$650,000 property; crops not recorded (1995 dollars)0, 0ThomasvilleB1-c worst recorded: Hail

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (411 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave1.63event-days per yearabout 1.63 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)312005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought25.9event-days per yearabout 25.9 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 12 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (40%)8962000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00108annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.108%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail1.27events per yearabout 1.27 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)48.4 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave5.05event-days per yearabout 5.05 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)822005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.245events per yearabout 1 in 4 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)681851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.0149event-days per yearabout 0.0149 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)01946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo Storm Events ice storm record, 1996 to 2025
Inland Flooding0.607event-days per yearabout 0.607 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 13 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (43.3%)171996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0738events per year (modeled)about 1 in 14 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning74.3days per year with a strikeabout 74.3 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.6events per yearabout 1.6 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)611986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.323events per yearabout 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0007annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.07%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather0.316event-days per yearabout 0.316 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202525300.833
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20252300.0667
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025167305.57
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202515300.5
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20259300.3
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20254300.133
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions GEMA template F: Multi-jurisdictional differences

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave14 of 1464.276.990.5Relatively High 6, Relatively Moderate 8
Drought14 of 1469.085.393.0Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 8, Very Low 4
Earthquake14 of 1423.934.254.6Relatively Low 3, Very Low 11
Hail14 of 1437.252.464.2Relatively Low 13, Very Low 1
Heat Wave14 of 1429.144.576.0Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 10
Hurricane14 of 1487.391.897.4Very High 1, Relatively High 10, Relatively Moderate 3
Ice Storm14 of 142.12.77.3Very Low 14
Inland Flooding14 of 146.136.791.5Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 9, Very Low 2
Landslide14 of 1411.638.571.5Very Low 14
Lightning14 of 1470.484.898.0Very High 2, Relatively High 11, Relatively Moderate 1
Strong Wind14 of 1438.052.078.3Relatively Moderate 6, Relatively Low 8
Tornado14 of 1441.052.274.6Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 8
Wildfire14 of 1456.783.292.2Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 11, Very Low 1
Winter Weather14 of 1429.138.462.5Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 11

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Thomas County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$2,405,525.040 total; 0 since its planIncludes $17,777.19 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4501-GA).
Barwick cityCityApproved, expires 2029-06-09FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$2,730.113 total; 0 since its plan
Boston cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$45,263.7325 total; 5 since its plan
Coolidge cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded15 total; 3 since its plan
Meigs cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$5,690.061 total; 0 since its plan
Ochlocknee townTownExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded14 total; 5 since its plan
Pavo cityCityApproved, expires 2029-06-09FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$3,173.831 total; 0 since its plan
Thomasville cityCityExpired on 2026-07-26FMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 3$3,948,348.74101 total; 28 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts GEMA template C/D: Community exposure; Estimate of potential losses

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2021-07-27county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$3,081$371,134$1,555,479under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$56,223,215n/an/a$151,619n/a0.27% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$22,237,101,638n/a45,798$151,870n/a$49,0840.000683%
Hail$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$31,112$43,269$33,0310.000253%$0
Heat Wave$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$42$196$481,922under 0.0001%$0
Hurricane$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$7,638,781$752,751$306,9720.0621%$105,203,000$3,335,461.91
Ice Storm$12,306,586,710n/a45,777$253n/a$3,123under 0.0001%
Inland Flooding$12,295,994,499$1,955,4331,128$6,423,985$7,339$167,194n/a (see note)$0$793,019NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$11,081,694n/a37$45n/a$10.000403%
Lightning$12,306,586,710n/a45,777$32,580n/a$489,2860.000265%
Strong Wind$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$91,041$3,402$168,5660.00074%$25,000$793,019
Tornado$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$688,850$2,663$341,2800.0056%$255,000$793,019
Wildfire$2,701,194,514$28,447,48515,238$136,447$165$13,9650.00505%
Winter Weather$12,306,586,710$101,378,63045,777$13,728$37$7,8240.000112%$0

Totals since 2021-07-27 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 98 county-coded records, 98 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $280,000; 23 zone-level records, 11 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $105,203,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: $3,335,461.91 on 5 counted declarations, 3 of them with Public Assistance.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context) GEMA template I: Social vulnerability

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population45,777
Building value (total, not at risk)$12,306,586,710
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$101,378,630
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$16,544,389
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$3,617,729
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)2
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition4Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition2

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0242401
of which: Thomasville city0232301
of which: Unknown (community ID Unknown in FEMA data)0010100
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file2252616

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Thomas County (unincorporated area)1304010000000
Barwick city1306190000000
Boston city1304020000000
Coolidge city1301690000000
Meigs city1305460000000
Ochlocknee town1306490000000
Pavo city1304840000000
Thomasville city1301700232301

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0131300
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0111101
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 4 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

GEMA local plan template

Section headings show the GEMA local hazard mitigation plan template letter (A to I) next to the FEMA checklist item (template: https://gema.georgia.gov/document/publication/local-hazard-mitigation-plan-update-template/download). No letter is documented for repetitive loss; place B2-c where your GEMA template puts it.

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Thomas County, GA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 13275). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ga/13275/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]