Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the country, affecting 99% of U.S. counties. It’s also estimated that roughly twice as many properties in the U.S. are at risk of flood damage than previously thought. [1]
This includes Georgia, where roughly 82% of properties with an extreme risk of flooding do not have flood insurance coverage. [2] Because homeowners insurance doesn’t cover water damage caused by flooding, you’ll want to consider getting a separate flood insurance policy — regardless of whether your home is in a high-risk flood zone or not.
Do you need flood insurance in Georgia?
In Georgia, you’re not legally required to purchase flood insurance. But like with homeowners insurance, your mortgage lender can require you to purchase it before offering you a loan. Lenders typically only require this coverage if you live in a high-risk flood zone according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps.
While a relatively small portion of Georgia consists of coastline, it has the sixth highest number of homes in high-risk flood zones of any U.S. state. [3] Also known as Special Flood Hazards Areas (SFHAs) on FEMA flood maps, these areas have a greater than 26% chance of extreme flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage.
But despite having fewer SFHAs, the northern part of Georgia — not the coastline — is actually the most flood-prone area of the state. [4] Given that greater than 1 in 3 flood damage claims are made by homeowners in low- to moderate-risk flood zones, Georgia homeowners will want to consider flood insurance regardless of where they live.
How much is flood insurance in Georgia?
The average cost of flood insurance in Georgia is $791 per year or $66 per month through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is about 12% cheaper than the national average of $888 per year. [5] However, your own flood insurance rates could be significantly higher or lower than the average in Georgia depending on your home’s elevation, size, and overall risk of being flooded.
Looking at the 50 Georgia counties with the most NFIP policyholders, Fannin County’s $1,201 annual flood insurance premium was the most expensive on average. Located in the northernmost part of Georgia, Fannin County has several large lakes and river systems that likely contribute to its higher-than-average premiums. Under Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA's new method for more accurately determining flood insurance premiums, rates in Fannin County are expected to increase 153% once they reach their full risk-based cost.
On the opposite end of the spectrum Lowndes County in South Georgia had the cheapest rates in our analysis, with homeowners paying an average of $638 each year for flood insurance. Under FEMA's new rating system, flood insurance rates in Lowndes County are expected to increase 55% to $992 to per year once insured properties reach their full risk-based cost.
County | Average annual cost | Average risk-based cost |
|---|---|---|
Appling County | $564 | $701 |
Atkinson County | $931 | $1,233 |
Bacon County | $931 | $1,233 |
Baker County | $931 | $1,233 |
Baldwin County | $892 | $1,843 |
Banks County | $931 | $1,233 |
Barrow County | $844 | $1,429 |
Bartow County | $778 | $1,795 |
Ben Hill County | $782 | $914 |
Berrien County | $599 | $669 |
Bibb County | $670 | $993 |
Bleckley County | $714 | $804 |
Brantley County | $928 | $1,060 |
Brooks County | $1,192 | $1,641 |
Bryan County | $749 | $1,363 |
Bulloch County | $823 | $1,154 |
Burke County | $595 | $687 |
Butts County | $987 | $2,367 |
Calhoun County | $931 | $1,233 |
Camden County | $712 | $948 |
Candler County | $972 | $1,231 |
Carroll County | $955 | $1,176 |
Catoosa County | $850 | $1,347 |
Charlton County | $675 | $986 |
Chatham County | $773 | $1,347 |
Chattooga County | $996 | $1,762 |
Cherokee County | $731 | $1,365 |
Clarke County | $755 | $1,779 |
Clay County | $931 | $1,233 |
Clayton County | $729 | $1,050 |
Clinch County | $865 | $979 |
Cobb County | $778 | $1,320 |
Coffee County | $733 | $1,007 |
Colquitt County | $757 | $959 |
Columbia County | $645 | $1,088 |
Cook County | $646 | $765 |
Coweta County | $667 | $953 |
Crawford County | $931 | $1,233 |
Crisp County | $1,218 | $2,242 |
Dade County | $921 | $1,198 |
Dawson County | $774 | $1,493 |
Decatur County | $1,060 | $2,376 |
Dekalb County | $829 | $1,169 |
Dodge County | $974 | $1,742 |
Dooly County | $1,010 | $2,349 |
Dougherty County | $877 | $1,312 |
Douglas County | $630 | $856 |
Early County | $1,328 | $1,578 |
Echols County | $931 | $1,233 |
Effingham County | $666 | $836 |
Elbert County | $931 | $1,233 |
Emanuel County | $1,029 | $1,438 |
Evans County | $828 | $900 |
Fannin County | $1,201 | $3,044 |
Fayette County | $661 | $961 |
Floyd County | $903 | $1,459 |
Forsyth County | $775 | $1,401 |
Franklin County | $685 | $3,858 |
Fulton County | $818 | $1,311 |
Gilmer County | $1,286 | $3,053 |
Glynn County | $832 | $1,438 |
Gordon County | $1,160 | $1,449 |
Grady County | $826 | $1,148 |
Greene County | $791 | $2,050 |
Gwinnett County | $729 | $1,176 |
Habersham County | $1,238 | $3,723 |
Hall County | $780 | $1,576 |
Hancock County | $1,296 | $2,194 |
Haralson County | $931 | $1,233 |
Harris County | $740 | $1,100 |
Hart County | $635 | $1,072 |
Heard County | $931 | $1,233 |
Henry County | $709 | $1,068 |
Houston County | $687 | $909 |
Irwin County | $931 | $1,233 |
Jackson County | $627 | $1,032 |
Jasper County | $1,007 | $2,185 |
Jeff Davis County | $497 | $527 |
Jefferson County | $931 | $1,233 |
Jenkins County | $1,020 | $1,371 |
Jones County | $763 | $1,070 |
Lamar County | $567 | $1,131 |
Lanier County | $587 | $587 |
Laurens County | $776 | $1,195 |
Lee County | $954 | $2,871 |
Liberty County | $749 | $1,333 |
Lincoln County | $931 | $1,233 |
Long County | $838 | $1,025 |
Lowndes County | $638 | $992 |
Lumpkin County | $1,146 | $3,216 |
Macon County | $611 | $1,154 |
Madison County | $773 | $2,788 |
Mcduffie County | $780 | $1,292 |
Mcintosh County | $774 | $1,412 |
Meriwether County | $1,003 | $1,358 |
Miller County | $1,088 | $1,357 |
Mitchell County | $824 | $1,581 |
Monroe County | $1,102 | $2,287 |
Montgomery County | $1,336 | $1,964 |
Morgan County | $1,217 | $2,019 |
Murray County | $801 | $1,436 |
Muscogee County | $753 | $1,048 |
Newton County | $924 | $1,901 |
Oconee County | $827 | $1,872 |
Oglethorpe County | $931 | $1,233 |
Paulding County | $696 | $1,255 |
Peach County | $595 | $694 |
Pickens County | $857 | $1,398 |
Pierce County | $870 | $1,232 |
Pike County | $835 | $2,048 |
Polk County | $1,188 | $1,604 |
Pulaski County | $846 | $1,541 |
Putnam County | $1,182 | $2,179 |
Quitman County | $931 | $1,233 |
Rabun County | $1,253 | $2,767 |
Randolph County | $931 | $1,233 |
Richmond County | $678 | $1,023 |
Rockdale County | $723 | $1,099 |
Screven County | $779 | $1,017 |
Seminole County | $934 | $1,246 |
Spalding County | $685 | $906 |
Stephens County | $923 | $1,047 |
Sumter County | $1,283 | $2,121 |
Talbot County | $901 | $1,816 |
Tattnall County | $979 | $1,317 |
Telfair County | $931 | $1,233 |
Terrell County | $931 | $1,233 |
Thomas County | $818 | $1,272 |
Tift County | $688 | $821 |
Toombs County | $785 | $1,436 |
Towns County | $1,079 | $2,245 |
Treutlen County | $931 | $1,233 |
Troup County | $817 | $1,203 |
Turner County | $763 | $771 |
Twiggs County | $931 | $1,233 |
Union County | $1,006 | $1,775 |
Upson County | $948 | $1,386 |
Walker County | $914 | $1,391 |
Walton County | $804 | $1,267 |
Ware County | $646 | $784 |
Washington County | $583 | $784 |
Wayne County | $756 | $913 |
Wheeler County | $931 | $1,233 |
White County | $1,110 | $2,139 |
Whitfield County | $865 | $1,469 |
Wilcox County | $931 | $1,233 |
Wilkes County | $931 | $1,233 |
Worth County | $1,170 | $2,164 |
Average flood insurance cost in Georgia by flood zone
Your flood insurance premiums are based primarily on the location of your home and how susceptible it is to flood damage If your house is near a large body of water or in a high-risk flood zone, you’ll likely pay significantly more for flood insurance compared to if you lived in a moderate- to low-risk area.
Here are the average flood insurance rates in areas with a high risk, moderate-to-low risk, and unmapped risk, according to our analysis of NFIP flood insurance data.
Georgia flood zone | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
High risk (A or V) | $1,083 |
Moderate-to-low risk (B, C, or X) | $603 |
Undetermined risk (D) | $2,195 |
What does flood insurance cover?
Flood insurance helps cover the cost of flood damage to your home and belongings. That means if your house is damaged due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall, a hurricane, high coastal tides, or any other sources of natural flooding, flood insurance can pay to repair or replace your property.
A standard flood insurance policy through the NFIP comes with two main coverages that can be purchased together or individually.
Building property coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild your house or garage if they’re damaged in a flood. The maximum building property coverage limit with the NFIP is $250,000, meaning that’s the most the NFIP will reimburse you for repairs, regardless of the damage amount.
Personal property coverage: Pays to repair or replace your belongings if they’re damaged in a flood. This includes your furniture, electronics, clothes, and any other items you own. The maximum personal property coverage limit with the NFIP is $100,000.
Each coverage also comes with its own separate out-of-pocket deductible, which is the amount you’re responsible for paying on each claim. Choosing a higher deductible will lower your flood insurance premium, but it will also reduce your claim payment.
How to get flood insurance in Georgia
To get flood insurance, you can go one of two routes:
NFIP flood insurance policy: Backed by the federal government and sold by insurance companies
Private flood insurance: Backed and sold by private insurers, it provides superior and often cheaper coverage compared to the NFIP plan
In order to purchase flood insurance through the NFIP, you need to live in a participating community. Fortunately, nearly 90% of all communities in Georgia participate in the program. And if you live in one of the 71 communities that doesn't offer NFIP coverage, you may still be able to purchase private flood insurance.
Private flood insurance policies typically come with higher reimbursement limits for flood damage to your home and personal belongings. Additionally, they often include coverages and other benefits that aren’t available in the NFIP plan. This includes loss of use coverage to help cover the cost of lodging or restaurant meals in the event your house is badly damaged and you’re forced to evacuate, or replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings.
Here’s a look at what Georgia residents can expect with NFIP and private flood insurance.
NFIP flood insurance | Private flood insurance | |
|---|---|---|
Building property coverage | Max of $250,000 | Up to $15 million depending on the company |
Personal property coverage | Max of $100,000 | Up to $1 million depending on the company |
Additional living expenses | Not included | Often included |
Basement contents | Limited to wall fixtures, air conditioners, washer/dryers | Often covered |
Deductible | $1,000 to $10,000 | $1,000 to $50,000 |
Waiting period | 30 days | As little as 0 to 10 days |
Accepted by mortgages | Yes | Yes |
How to save money on flood insurance in Georgia
There are several steps Georgia homeowners can take to mitigate the risk of flood damage to their home while also lowering their flood insurance rates. Here are the most effective ways to reduce the cost of flood insurance, according to FEMA.
Flood-proof your home. Elevating your home, moving water heaters and other home systems to higher ground, filling in basements and crawl spaces, and installing flood openings or barriers in your home can all lead to lower flood insurance rates.
Increase your policy deductible. Setting your deductible at the $10,000 maximum can reduce your rates by as much as 40%, according to FEMA. Before increasing your deductible, make sure it’s set to an amount you can afford to pay out of pocket.
Take advantage of community-wide discounts. If your community is enrolled in the NFIP’s Community Rating System, you’re eligible for a discount of anywhere from 5% to 45%. You can visit FEMA’s Community Rating System page to see if your community participates.
Use an elevation certificate. An elevation certificate (EC) is a document that details your home’s flood risk. If you have an EC and it can prove that your home is above the Base Flood Elevation in your community, that could help lower your rates.
Georgia flood insurance companies
The following 24 insurance companies in Georgia are approved to sell NFIP flood insurance policies to their customers. Whether you’re interested in purchasing both your home and flood insurance through the same company or mix and match with different companies, these are the providers you’ll need to go to for NFIP coverage.
Curious how private flood insurance options stack up to the competition? Compare quotes with Policygenius and we’ll do our best to find you the cheapest and best flood insurance coverage for your home — whether through the NFIP or a private flood insurer.
