Emanuel County, Georgia
A shallow water table limits basements on 54% of Emanuel County's mapped land, a higher share than 70% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 6%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 3 flood losses here since 2016. 46% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1982.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Emanuel County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 5.6% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 54.0% |
| Septic fields very limited | 91.6% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 5.6% |
| Mapped soil | 441,300 acres |
How we count · survey areas GA107 (2025-08-27)
What the numbers mean here
On 54% of Emanuel County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 30.57 in, 15.95 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 46.52 in.
USDA rates 92% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 35 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 34 weeks, most recently on the June 9, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
3 flood losses since 2016, $2,091 paid. The worst year was 2024, with 2.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 46.52 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 30.57 in (-15.95) |
| 2025 | 40.00 in (-6.52) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1964: 69.30 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1954: 22.80 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MIDVILLE EXP STN (20 mi away) | 14.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 10,036 |
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 21% |
| Owner-occupied | 61% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $94,700 |
| Single-family detached | 57% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candler County, GA | 19 mi | 0% | 58% |
| Treutlen County, GA | 20 mi | 4% | 51% |
| Johnson County, GA | 22 mi | 2% | 50% |
| Jenkins County, GA | 24 mi | 9% | 65% |
| Montgomery County, GA | 32 mi | 0% | 50% |
| Toombs County, GA | 32 mi | 0% | 50% |
| Jefferson County, GA | 33 mi | 1% | 41% |
| Bulloch County, GA | 35 mi | under 1% | 76% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 27, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status