Georgia Flooding

Losses, 2024 dollars

$1.3 billion

Losses at the time

$899 million

Deaths

10

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Flash Flood in Louisiana, September 17 to 18, 20091 eventThe same upper level low pressure system which brought flood producing rainfall to many portions of the region on the 14th and 15th of the month remained nearly stationary across northeast Texas on the 17th.
• Flash Flood in Mississippi, September 17, 2009$1,000 · 1 eventAn upper disturbance combined with rich gulf moisture to produce locally heavy rains across Lauderdale County during the late evening. Water covered a road in Toomsuba.
• Flash Flooding in Mississippi, September 18, 2009$952,000 · 3 eventsThe wet weather pattern continued and more rainfall fell across already soaked portions of the forecast area. As the upper level disturbance continued to impact the region, locally heavy rains occurred across portions of Sunflower and Kemper Counties.
• Heavy Rain in Florida, September 18, 20093 eventsThe forecast area was positioned between high pressure over southern Florida and a cut-off low over the lower Mississippi River Valley and a moist southwest flow in the mid and upper levels. Several days of heavy rainfall occurred.
• Flood in Florida, September 18, 20091 eventStrong, slow moving thunderstorms on the 15th dropped several inches of rain over portions of Franklin County, which resulted in areal flooding.
• Flash Flooding in Arkansas, September 18, 20092 eventsAn upper level low pressure system moved slowly through the Mid-South during the time period of September 17th-September 18th, 2009. Deep moisture associated with the upper low produced several rounds of heavy rain causing flash flooding over much of the Mid-South.
• Flash Flooding in South Carolina, September 18, 2009$4,000 · 2 eventsA stationary frontal boundary in combination with a deep tropical air mass, resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms and localized flash flooding in southern South Carolina.
• Flash Flooding in Tennessee, September 18, 2009$40,000 · 3 eventsAn upper level low pressure system moved slowly through the Mid-South during the time period of September 17th-September 18th, 2009. Deep moisture associated with the upper low produced several rounds of heavy rain causing flash flooding over much of the Mid-South.
• Flash Flood in Alabama, September 18, 2009$5,000 · 1 eventShower and thunderstorm activity produced 3 to 6 inches of rainfall across poritons of northwestern Alabama. This caused widespread flash flooding across the central portion of Colbert County.
• Flash Flood in Tennessee, September 18, 20091 eventA small area of persistent thunderstorms produced isolated flash flooding.
• Flash Flood in Tennessee, September 19, 2009$10,000 · 1 eventAs a low level low pressure system began to move northeastward out of the Southern Mississippi River Valley Region during the early morning hours, southeasterly low level moisture was spread across southern portions of Middle Tennessee.
• Coastal Flood in Florida, September 19 to 21, 20091 eventPersistent low level onshore flow and high astronomical tides produced minor coastal flooding near Mayport around the times of high tide. The benchmark for minor coastal flooding at Mayport is 6.4 ft.
• Flash Flooding in Arkansas, September 19, 2009$4,000 · 2 eventsMoisture levels remained high. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms popped up and were nearly stationary across Arkansas on the morning and early afternoon of the 19th.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Georgia, September 19, 2009$137,000 · 5 eventsThe broad upper low continued to drift very slowly east-northeast from east Texas during this period. Showers and thunderstorms became more numerous and very efficient rain producers across west and north Georgia. Tropical moisture continued to spread northward into the region.
• Flash Flood in Georgia, September 19, 20091 eventAn area of light to moderate rain affected most of northeast Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours. A few embedded, heavier showers developed, which produced a small amount of urban flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Missouri, September 19, 20098 eventsThunderstorms associated with an upper level low moving through Southwest Missouri produced heavy and flash flooding.
• Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Texas, September 19, 200960 kt wind · 2 eventsAn upper level disturbance moved across the Rio Grande Valley producing showers and isolated thunderstorms across portions of the County Warning Area. Some thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall and flooding.
• Flash Flood and Hail in New Mexico, September 19, 2009$10,000 · 1 in hail · 4 eventsA cool pocket of air associated with a weak trough aloft moved over an area of low level convergence, resulting in a line of severe thunderstorms.
• Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Texas, September 19, 2009$50,000 · 54 kt wind · 2 eventsA cool pocket of air associated with a weak trough aloft moved over an area of low level convergence. Low level moisture was abundant. Thunderstorms which formed in this environment produced flash flooding in the El Paso area.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Missouri, September 20, 2009$40,000 · 3 eventsThunderstorms associated with an upper level low moving through Southwest Missouri produced heavy and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in North Carolina, September 20, 2009$90,000 · 7 eventsPeriods of heavy rain fell between the 18th and 22nd across the southern mountains of North Carolina. Over the five day period, over 17 inches of rain fall in a few locations, with many areas reporting 10 inches of more.
• Flash Flooding in Missouri, September 20, 20092 eventsSeveral areas of thunderstorms moved through central and east central Missouri dumping between 2 and 3 inches of rain with isolated reports in excess of 4 inches. This caused some isolated flash flood reports.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Georgia, September 20 to 23, 200910 deaths · 3 injured · $268 million · 89 eventsA historical, record, and catastrophic flood event unfolded during this period, mostly in the west central Georgia area, including the western and northwestern suburbs of Atlanta.
• Flash Flood and Flood in South Carolina, September 20, 2009$10,000 · 2 eventsPeriods of heavy rain fell between the 18th and 22nd across the northwest corner of South Carolina, mostly of over Oconee and western Pickens Counties.
• Flash Flood and Flooding in Georgia, September 20, 2009$4.5 million · 3 eventsPeriods of heavy rain fell between the 18th and 22nd across northeast Georgia, with the heaviest rain falling on the 20th. Stephens County was by far the most heavily affected area in the extreme northeast part of the state.
• Flash Flooding in Illinois, September 20 to 21, 20091 death · 3 eventsA low pressure center tracked into central Illinois by early afternoon, producing a narrow band of intense rain in parts of west central Illinois and a small part of southeast Illinois. Isolated rainfall totals of 4.00 to 5.00 inches resulted in flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding in Mississippi, September 20, 2009$7,000 · 3 eventsAn upper level disturbance moved through the Mid-South during the day on September 20th, 2009. Heavy rain fell in association with the disturbance causing flash flooding.
• Flash Flood in Tennessee, September 20, 20091 eventAn upper level disturbance moved through the Mid-South during the day on September 20th, 2009. Heavy rain fell in association with the disturbance causing flash flooding.
• Flash Flood in Tennessee, September 20, 2009$10,000 · 1 eventAs an area of showers and thunderstorms moved west to east across Middle Tennessee, flash flooding occurred across Maury County. This was the result of southerly flow surface and aloft ushering in deep atmospheric moisture across the mid state.
• Flash Flood in Indiana, September 20, 20091 eventA prolonged period of thunderstorms occurred over southwest Indiana in a very moist southerly wind flow. A weak low pressure center just northwest of the Ohio River's confluence with the Mississippi River helped to focus the moisture and convergence.
• Flooding in Tennessee, September 20 to 24, 20091 death · 1 injured · $455,000 · 10 eventsA strong storm system moved northeast into southeast Tennessee, producing repeat rainfall over the same area, in particular the South and West Chickamauga Creek basins. The South Chickamauga Creek reached its second highest ever recorded stage at the gage near Chickamauga, TN.
• Flood in Puerto Rico, September 20 to 21, 20091 eventUpper level low with deep low level moisture allowed for heavy showers and thunderstorms to develop over the western interior. The afternoon rains caused rivers along the northwest to quickly rise during the evening, flooding parts of road 418 in Coloso sector of Aguada.
• Heavy Rain in Illinois, September 20, 20091 eventA prolonged period of thunderstorms occurred over southeast Illinois in a very moist southerly wind flow. A weak low pressure center just northwest of the Ohio River's confluence with the Mississippi River helped to focus the moisture and convergence.
• Flash Flood in Kentucky, September 20, 2009$20,000 · 1 eventA prolonged period of thunderstorms occurred over the Owensboro area in a very moist southerly wind flow. A weak low pressure center just northwest of the Ohio River's confluence with the Mississippi River helped to focus the moisture and convergence.
• Flash Flood in Alabama, September 20, 20091 eventDuring the afternoon and evening hours on the 20th, showers and thunderstorms developed across northwestern Alabama. This activity produced two to four inches of rainfall across extreme southeastern Lauderdale, northwestern Lawrence, and eastern Colbert county.
• Flash Flooding in Kentucky, September 20 to 21, 20096 eventsA mid-level trough moved over the region generating heavy rainfall of around two to four inches over several hours across north central Kentucky. Heavy rain fell on previously saturated ground, resulting in flash flooding.
• Debris Flows and Flood in Puerto Rico, September 20 to 21, 20093 eventsAmple low level moisture combined with favorable upper level conditions associated with an upper level low, produced numerous showers and thunderstorms during this time period every afternoon, affecting the western interior, west and northwest sections of Puerto Rico.
• Flash Flooding in Tennessee, September 20, 20093 eventsDuring the afternoon and evening hours, shower and thunderstorm activity produced 2 to 4 inches of rainfall across Lincoln and Moore counties. This flooding closed six roads in Lincoln county and many roads across Moore county.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, September 20 to 21, 2009$290,000 · 1 in hail · 15 eventsA warm and unstable air mass led to the development of slow moving thunderstorms. Many of the storms produced flash flooding, and a few produced large hail.
• Flash Flood and Flood in Alabama, September 21, 2009$60,000 · 2 eventsA very tropical airmass with dewpoints in the lower 70s interacted with a warm front and a strong low level jet to produce strong thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall. This resulted in flooding rainfall in extreme northeastern Alabama.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, September 21, 2009$219,000 · 1 in hail · 6 eventsThe wet weather pattern continued as a lingering upper disturbance combined with rich gulf moisture and good instability produced thunderstorms with locally heavy rains and a few severe thunderstorms.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Kansas, September 21, 2009$9,000 · 6 eventsA strong low level jet helped to trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms during the overnight hours of September 21st. Reports of 3 to 4 inches of rain were received along with reports of flooding.
• Flooding in North Carolina, September 21, 20092 eventsA strong storm system moved northeast into southwest North Carolina, producing repeat rainfall over the same area. Several area roads in Cherokee and Clay counties were flooded during the event.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Kansas, September 21, 2009$10,000 · 1.5 in hail · 9 eventsThunderstorms along a slow moving cold front produced large hail, heavy rain and flash flooding.
• Flooding in North Carolina, September 21 to 22, 2009$110,000 · 4 eventsA third round of heavy rain in two days over the southern North Carolina Mountains caused the French Broad River to go into flood west of Hendersonville. The prolonged heavy rain also caused many streams to flood, closing several roads across the southern mountains.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, September 21, 20091 injured · $186,000 · 1.75 in hail · 47 eventsSevere thunderstorms occurred over a large part of eastern Oklahoma from the early afternoon hours into the evening hours of the 21st. The continued heavy rain across the area resulted in flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Missouri, September 21, 2009$2,000 · 1 in hail · 20 eventsThunderstorms along a slow moving cold front produced large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, September 21, 2009$3,000 · 0.75 in hail · 3 eventsAn upper level disturbance moved through the region on September 21. The disturbance produced some thunderstorms which produced severe weather and flash flooding in parts of east Arkansas.
• Flash Flooding in Kentucky, September 21, 20092 eventsScattered heavy rainfall falling on saturated ground caused isolated flooding in central Kentucky.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Oklahoma, September 21, 2009$20,000 · 1.75 in hail · 12 eventsA cold front moved southeast through Oklahoma during the day on the 21st as an upper level storm system moved east through the central plains. Thunderstorms developed first over parts of eastern Oklahoma, and built southwest along the front into the southeast half of Oklahoma.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, September 21, 2009$944,000 · 2 in hail · 34 eventsSevere storms developed ahead of a cold front in a very unstable environment. Large hail fell from the early storms but damaging winds became the main threat as the initial storms merged into an extensive line.
• Flash Flood in Kentucky, September 21, 2009$20,000 · 1 eventHeavy rainfall caused flash flooding that resulted in people being trapped and a car being washed away.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, September 21, 2009$65,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 eventsSevere thunderstorms with heavy rain, wind and hail spread into northwest Arkansas from eastern Oklahoma.
• Flash Flood and Flood in Ohio, September 21 to 22, 2009$3,000 · 2 eventsHeavy rainfall caused flash flooding and flooding in Brown County Ohio during the night of September 21st and into the early morning hours of the 22nd.
• Flash Flooding in Tennessee, September 21 to 26, 2009$1.3 million · 3 eventsA persistent upper level low remained near the region from September 22 through September 26. Several rounds of thunderstorms develop over the area producing flash flooding over parts of southwest Tennessee.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, September 21 to 22, 2009$262,000 · 60 kt wind · 11 eventsStorms were building southward into Texas during the nighttime hours of the 21st and early on the 22nd. Precipitation surged into Arkansas during this time frame. Heavy rain and isolated severe weather occurred with this system.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, September 22 to 24, 2009$276,000 · 0.75 in hail · 15 eventsThe very wet weather period finally culminated between the 22nd and 23rd of September. The persistent upper level disturbances continue to combine with a very moist airmass to produce widespread rainfall with many areas seeing heavy rains.
• Heavy Rain in North Carolina, September 22, 2009$5,000 · 2 eventsTropical moisture produced from four to six inches of rain in New Hanover and Pender Counties.
• Flood in Oklahoma, September 22 to 24, 20091 eventWidespread heavy rainfall across northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas due to a cold front that moved into the region on the 21st resulted in moderate flooding along the Neosho River near Commerce.
• Flash Flood in Texas, September 22, 20091 eventA cold front moved through the area and caused thunderstorms which produced heavy rain resulting in flash flooding in the Austin area.
• Flooding and Heavy Rain in Missouri, September 22, 20096 eventsThunderstorms along a slow moving cold front produced heavy rain and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Tennessee, September 22 to 25, 20091 death · $240,000 · 5 eventsShowers and thunderstorms developed across mainly the western half of Middle Tennessee as the day progressed in response to deepening surface and aloft southerly flow. This was in association with a developing low pressure system over the central plains.
• Flash Flood in Indiana, September 22, 2009$30,000 · 1 eventNumerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving east across Illinois and extreme western Kentucky. A deep, moist southerly wind flow aloft contributed to heavy rainfall.
• Heavy Rain in Kentucky, September 22, 20092 eventsNumerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving east across Illinois and extreme western Kentucky. A deep, moist southerly wind flow aloft contributed to heavy rainfall.
• Flash Flooding in Mississippi, September 22 to 24, 2009$16,000 · 7 eventsA persistent upper level low remained near the region from September 22 through September 26. Several rounds of thunderstorms develop over the area producing flash flooding over parts of north Mississippi.
• Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 22 to 23, 20092 eventsLocally heavy rainfall of 5 to 6 inches developed with the approach of an upper level shortwave and along a stalled surface trough. The heavy rainfall resulted in isolated flooding across southern Wake and northern Harnett county.
• Flash Flood in Kentucky, September 22 to 23, 20091 eventHeavy rainfall on saturated ground created minor flooding in Logan County, Kentucky.
• Flash Flood in Mississippi, September 22, 20091 eventNumerous showers and thunderstorms developed across south Mississippi as a moist and unstable atmosphere prevailed across the region and a weak and nearly stationary frontal boundary was draped across the area.
• Flash Flood in Alabama, September 22 to 23, 20091 eventHeavy rainfall starting late in the night on the 22nd and continuing through the early morning hours on the 23rd caused flash flooding in the Tuscumbia community.
• Flash Flooding in Tennessee, September 23, 2009$25,000 · 2 eventsAn area of showers developed during the early morning hours across southwestern portions of Middle Tennessee in response to deepening southerly flow ushering in additional moisture to the area.
• Flood in Alabama, September 23 to 28, 2009$5,000 · 1 eventWidespread heavy rains resulted in flooding along the Tombigbee River in Southwest Alabama.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Alabama, September 23, 20093 eventsHeavy rainfall caused flash flooding in portions of northwestern Alabama. The flooding was reported in and around the Moulton community.
• Heavy Rain in Kentucky, September 23, 20092 eventsIsolated, nearly stationary showers and thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall. The activity occurred in the vicinity of a weak inverted surface trough extending northward into the Lower Ohio Valley.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2009Tornadoes in 2009

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.