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Risk: Relatively Low

Ware County, GA Environment & Hazard Risk

Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 288 storm events since 1996.

Expected yearly loss
$12.1M
Very Low nationally
Storm events since 1996
288
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
119
0.8% of homes
Hurricanes nearby
2
39 tropical storms or stronger since 1868

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025

Overall risk

Relatively Low

Score 49.4 of 100

Social vulnerability

Relatively High

Score 78.1 of 100

Community resilience

Very High

Score 81.2 of 100

Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.

Building value exposed: $8.2B · Agriculture value exposed: $40.8M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $16.5M

Risk by hazard

  • HurricaneRelatively Moderate$4.1M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
  • WildfireRelatively Low$176K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 601 years
  • EarthquakeRelatively Low$501K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 711 years
  • LightningRelatively Moderate$309K/yr expected annual loss, about 75 events a year
  • TornadoRelatively Low$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
  • Heat waveRelatively Low$439K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.8 events a year
  • DroughtRelatively Low$96.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 26 events a year
  • Strong windRelatively Low$239K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
  • Winter weatherVery Low$13.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
  • LandslideVery Low$83/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
  • Cold waveVery Low$158K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
  • HailVery Low$29.5K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year
  • Ice stormVery Low$2,591/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Flood risk and insurance

National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance
119 of 15,482 (0.8%)
Homes in high-risk flood zones
684
Insured in high-risk zones
94 (14%)
Flood claims since 1978
44
Claims paid since 1978
$287K

Flood claims paid per year

Flood claims paid per year in Ware County
Beta
  • Hurricane Irma$52.7K · 6 claims
  • Hurricane Helene$0 · 1 claim
  • Tropical Storm Ivan$0 · 1 claim

Storm history

Since 1996: 288 events, 2 deaths, $2.9M in damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind163
  • Hail46
  • Heavy Rain18
  • Drought15
  • Tornado10
  • Lightning9 · 2 deaths
  • Funnel Cloud7
  • Flood6
  • Flash Flood6
  • Tropical Storm4
Beta

Events per year

Storm events per year in Ware County
12
15
15
4
13
12
3
8
9
11
2
12
4
13
2
5
9
7
7
19
Beta

20 tornadoes on record (EF0 5, EF1 4, F0 4, F1 5, F2 1, F3 1).

Most damaging storms

Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • Lightning07/11/2025

    Emerson Park, Ware County

    2 deaths

    What happened

    Two males, 18 and 19 years old, were killed by lightning in an open field near a vehicle during a thunderstorm Thursday evening along Lejuene Road and Alton Circle after fishing. The time of the event was based on county official information and lightning data.

  • Thunderstorm Wind01/03/1999

    Waycross, Ware County

    $2.2M damage

    What happened

    In the Jamestown Community two residents with minor damage. In an Industrial Park a boat manufacturing company had one building destroyed and moderate damage to one end of their main building. A mobile home manufacturing plant had a 100,000 sq/ft building and shop destroyed, 5 new mobile homes were destroyed and 14 others were damaged, 5 semi-trailers were damaged and a pickup truck.

  • Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind05/28/1996

    Manor, Ware County

    1 injured, $15K damage

    What happened

    Mobile home blown over with one injury.

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind04/19/2019

    West Waycross, Ware County

    1 injured

    What happened

    A mobile home was rolled over and destroyed by severe thunderstorm winds. Three vehicles were also overturned at the same location. One person was injured inside the mobile home.

  • Lightning05/28/1996

    Waycross, Ware County

    1 injured

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/27/2006

    Dixie Union, Ware County

    $250K damage

    What happened

    A tractor trailer was blown over and a silo blown down near Highway 158 near Telmore. Other vehicles and buildings in the area were damaged. Emergency Management said the damage looked like it was caused by a microburst.

Drinking water

6 community water systems serve about 32,933 people. Violations since 2021.

None of the systems serving this county had a health-based violation in this period.

Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.

Pollution sites

0 Superfund sites and 4 toxic release facilities in Ware County

Superfund sites

None in this county.

Toxic release facilities

Total: 91,225 lbs in 2024, 90,960 lbs to air.

Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk5 historic places

Frequently asked questions

How risky is Ware County for natural disasters?
FEMA rates Ware County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $12.1M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively moderate), wildfire (relatively low), earthquake (relatively low).
What storms are most common in Ware County?
Since 1996, NOAA recorded 288 storm events affecting Ware County, most often thunderstorm wind (163), hail (46), heavy rain (18).
How many tornadoes have hit Ware County?
20 tornadoes have been recorded in Ware County since 1950, including 1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
How many homes in Ware County have flood insurance?
119 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Ware County, covering about 0.8% of homes. The program has paid $287K on 44 claims here since 1978.
What is the weather like in Ware County?
At Fargo 17 NE, average highs reach 94°F in Jul and lows fall to 42°F in Jan, with 51.5 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).

Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.

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