Hurricanes
Flooding
The entire state of Georgia is vulnerable to impacts from tropical systems. While storm surge along the coast and wind damage receive the most attention, inland flooding is a concern statewide from the coastal plain to the mountains.
Georgia had massive flooding in 1994 from tropical storm Alberto. Mississippi and Louisiana experienced massive flooding from hurricane Katrina in 2005. In both instances, areas that many assumed safe from flooding were flooded. Much of the flooding occurred outside the standard 100-year flood plain.
Unfortunately, as many in Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana discovered, standard homeowners and small business insurance doesn't cover flood damage.
Because of the devastating loss caused by flooding, Georgians should seriously consider buying flood insurance, even if it's not required by the mortgage holder. It's important to remember that there is a 30-day wait period before flood insurance policies take effect. Waiting until a storm forms is too late.
Information about the National Flood Insurance Program may be found at www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/inscenter.jsp.
Federal Emergency Management Agency information on flood damage prevention may be found at www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp.