Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
From 1980–2024 (as of August 8, 2024), there have been 129 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect Georgia. These events included 16 drought events, 4 flooding events, 3 freeze events, 67 severe storm events, 24 tropical cyclone events, 3 wildfire events, and 12 winter storm events. The 1980–2023 annual average is 2.8 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2019–2023) is 7.6 events (CPI-adjusted).
Billion-dollar events to affect Georgia from 1980 to 2024* ( CPI-A Una djusted) | Disaster Type | Events | Events/Year | Percent Frequency | Total Costs | Percent of Total Costs |
|---|
| Drought | 16 | 0.4 | 12.4% | $5.0B-$10.0B | 17.7% |
| Flooding | 4 | 0.1 | 3.1% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 3.0% |
| Freeze | 3 | 0.1 | 2.3% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 2.8% |
| Severe Storm | 67 | 1.5 | 51.9% | $10.0B-$20.0B | 27.7% |
| Tropical Cyclone | 24 | 0.5 | 18.6% | $10.0B-$20.0B | 42.0% |
| Wildfire | 3 | 0.1 | 2.3% | $250M-$500M | 0.6% |
| Winter Storm | 12 | 0.3 | 9.3% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 6.2% |
| All Disasters | 129 | 2.9 | 100.0% | $20.0B-$50.0B | 100.0% |
| Drought | 16 | 0.4 | 13.8% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 12.6% |
| Flooding | 3 | 0.1 | 2.6% | $5M-$100M | 0.3% |
| Freeze | 3 | 0.1 | 2.6% | $500M-$1.0B | 2.7% |
| Severe Storm | 59 | 1.3 | 50.9% | $5.0B-$10.0B | 31.5% |
| Tropical Cyclone | 24 | 0.5 | 20.7% | $10.0B-$20.0B | 46.8% |
| Wildfire | 3 | 0.1 | 2.6% | $100M-$250M | 0.6% |
| Winter Storm | 8 | 0.2 | 6.9% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 5.5% |
| All Disasters | 116 | 2.6 | 100.0% | $20.0B-$50.0B | 100.0% |
Select Time Period Comparisons of Georgia Billion-Dollar Drought, Flooding, Freeze, Severe Storm, Tropical Cyclone, Wildfire, and Winter Storm Statistics ( CPI-A Una djusted) | Time Period | Billion-Dollar Disasters | Events/ Year | Cost | Percent of Total Cost |
|---|
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 9 | 0.9 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 7.7% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 14 | 1.4 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 14.9% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 25 | 2.5 | $10.0B-$20.0B | 23.1% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 37 | 3.7 | $10.0B-$20.0B | 33.5% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 38 | 7.6 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 19.4% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 26 | 8.7 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 12.5% |
| Last Year (2023) | 14 | 14.0 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 7.0% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 129 | 2.9 | $20.0B-$50.0B | 100.0% |
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 4 | 0.4 | $500M-$1.0B | 3.0% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 12 | 1.2 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 10.3% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 21 | 2.1 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 18.8% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 35 | 3.5 | $10.0B-$20.0B | 39.4% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 38 | 7.6 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 26.5% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 26 | 8.7 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 17.9% |
| Last Year (2023) | 14 | 14.0 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 10.3% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 116 | 2.6 | $20.0B-$50.0B | 100.0% |
