Valdosta and South Georgia after Michael, Idalia and Helene

Helene in Lowndes County

On September 26, 2024, Helene blew down a huge number of trees and power lines across Lowndes County. NOAA's Storm Events Database says about 99% of the county lost power, thousands of power lines were down across local roads, and Colquitt Electric reported 1,000 broken power poles in its service area. The database lists two direct deaths and a $500 million damage estimate for the county. FEMA's DR-4830 for Helene includes Lowndes County.

Idalia, 2023

Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, Florida, with estimated maximum sustained winds of 100 knots, according to the National Hurricane Center, and was still a hurricane when it crossed into southern Georgia. The report notes pockets of 7 to 10 inches of rain just west of the track in southern Georgia, and a correction that reclassified one Georgia death as a direct wind fatality.

In Lowndes County, the database entry for August 30, 2023 counts 1,127 homes damaged, 684 of them destroyed or with major damage, and more than 1,000 calls about downed trees and power lines. FEMA declared DR-4738 for Idalia on September 7, 2023, and Lowndes is among the counties covered.

Michael, 2018

Michael came ashore near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base as a category 5 hurricane, then weakened quickly; the NHC says its maximum winds had dropped below 100 knots before the eye moved into southwestern Georgia around 2130 UTC on October 10, and hurricane-force winds still occurred near the track there. The Lowndes County record logs tropical storm conditions that day with a $200,000 damage estimate, and FEMA's emergency declaration EM-3406 includes Lowndes.

Rain, wind and the smaller storms

Hurricanes are not the only roof test. When Debby passed on August 5, 2024, about 34,000 residents lost power, and Valdosta State University had six buildings with water damage from leaking roofs; FEMA's DR-4821 covers Lowndes for Debby. On November 6, 2024, around 10 inches of rain fell over Valdosta in six hours, more than the 8.59 inches the database gives as the area's estimated 1,000-year six-hour rainfall.

From 2016 through 2025, the database records 238 thunderstorm wind events and 78 flash floods in Lowndes County, but only seven hail events of 1 inch or larger (NCEI). Straight-line winds on March 27, 2024 uprooted large pines across northwest Valdosta, and an EF2 tornado on December 29, 2014 began on the south side of the city and injured nine people.

The coast

On the Atlantic side, the NHC's Idalia report records storm surge inundation of 2 to 4 feet above ground level along the Georgia and South Carolina coastline. The directory lists roofers in Savannah and explains roof replacement costs in Savannah.

Vetting a roofer when the region is rebuilding

Reviews can mislead in both directions. The FTC's consumer guide warns that some companies post fake negative reviews to hurt a competitor, so a single harsh review on an otherwise steady record deserves a second look. The FTC's guidance for review platforms asks them to publish all genuine reviews and not to hold negative ones to a higher standard.

On licensing, roofing alone is on the Georgia board's specialty contractor list. Water damage like Debby's often means interior repairs as well, and once a job moves into other residential work worth more than $2,500, look for a licensed residential contractor in the Secretary of State's search. The Attorney General's home improvement guide also suggests checking with your city or county government that the contractor has any required local license. The directory lists roofers in Valdosta, and our home page covers the federal review rule.

Roofers in Valdosta and Savannah

Here are roofing companies listed on the National Roofing Directory in Valdosta and Savannah.

Frequently asked questions

How much of Lowndes County lost power in Helene?

About 99%, according to the Storm Events Database, which also records thousands of downed power lines and 1,000 broken poles reported by Colquitt Electric in its service area.

Did Idalia bring storm surge to the Georgia coast?

Yes. The NHC report records storm surge inundation of 2 to 4 feet above ground level along the Georgia and South Carolina coastline as Idalia moved northeast.

Are fake negative reviews covered by the FTC rule?

The rule bans creating or spreading reviews that falsely present themselves as coming from real customers, and the FTC's consumer guidance specifically notes that fake reviews are sometimes negative, posted to harm a competitor. You can report suspected fakes to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.