Coastal Georgia Roof Wind-Code & FEMA Flood-Zone Reference
A free, by-area reference of the ASCE 7-16 ultimate design wind speeds and FEMA flood zones that govern roofing across Savannah and Coastal Georgia — spanning Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Glynn, and Bulloch counties. Every figure links back to the county code and the FEMA FIRM map you can verify it against.
Wind code (ASCE 7-16 ultimate mph)
The ultimate design wind speedis the 3-second-gust wind the structure must be designed to resist under ASCE 7, as adopted by the Georgia building code. For roofing it drives the fastening pattern: a 130–140 mph zone calls for a 6-nail pattern on every shingle, ring-shank nails, sealed hip-and-ridge cap, and reinforced starter strips — baseline coastal specs, not upgrades.
FEMA flood zone (AE / VE / X)
FEMA flood zones come from the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). AE is a 1%-annual-chance Special Flood Hazard Area; VE is the highest coastal tier with velocity wave action; X is outside the mapped high-risk floodplain. Flood zone governs the lowest finished floor — but in AE/VE the roof becomes the first defense against wind-driven rain. Flood zone is parcel-specific; always confirm yours on the FIRM map.
By-Area Wind-Code & Flood-Zone Reference
Where an area has no published flood-zone designation in our data, the FEMA column shows an em-dash (“—”) and defers to the FEMA FIRM map and county building department — we never assert a zone we cannot source. Wind speeds reflect the ASCE 7 ultimate design wind speed adopted by each county.
| Area | Wind code (ASCE 7-16 ultimate mph) | FEMA flood zone | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah (Chatham County)Chatham County | 130 mphultimate design wind speed under ASCE 7 (Hurricane Zone A) | —Parcel-specific — verify on the FEMA FIRM map; downtown river blocks differ from inland. | Savannah (Chatham County) roofingChatham County code |
| Tybee IslandChatham County | 140 mphultimate design wind speed under ASCE 7-16; exposure category D on oceanfront | AE / VEMost of the island sits in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas AE or VE. | Tybee Island roofingChatham County code |
| Wilmington IslandChatham County | 140 mphultimate (Bull River / marsh-front exposure) | —Many marsh- and Bull River-facing 31410 parcels carry coastal flood designations — verify the parcel on the FIRM map. | Wilmington Island roofingChatham County code |
| Whitemarsh IslandChatham County | 140 mphultimate (tidal-creek marsh corridor) | —Many 31410 parcels along the tidal creeks carry coastal FEMA flood designations — verify the parcel on the FIRM map. | Whitemarsh Island roofingChatham County code |
| Isle of HopeChatham County | 140 mphultimate wind zone (very high salt exposure) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Isle of Hope roofingChatham County code |
| Skidaway Island / The LandingsChatham County | 140 mphultimate design wind zone | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Skidaway Island / The Landings roofingChatham County code |
| Dutch IslandChatham County | 140 mphultimate wind (Skidaway Narrows dock-front) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Dutch Island roofingChatham County code |
| Garden CityChatham County | ~130 mphbasic wind speed under IBC / ASCE wind-load standards (wind-borne-debris region) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map; confirm city vs. county jurisdiction. | Garden City roofingChatham County code |
| Port WentworthChatham County | ~130 mphdesign wind speed (coastal wind-borne-debris jurisdiction) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Port Wentworth roofingChatham County code |
| BloomingdaleChatham County | 130 mphwind code (rural western Chatham, ZIP 31302) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Bloomingdale roofingChatham County code |
| Richmond HillBryan County | 130 mphultimate design wind speed (ZIP 31324; 2018 GA Building Code w/ 2024 amendments) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Richmond Hill roofingBryan County code |
| Ford PlantationBryan County | 130 mphultimate design wind zone (Ogeechee River salt corridor) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Ford Plantation roofingBryan County code |
| PembrokeBryan County | 130 mphultimate (inland North Bryan, ZIP 31321) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Pembroke roofingBryan County code |
| Kilkenny BluffBryan County | 140 mphultimate wind (Kilkenny Creek deepwater dock community) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Kilkenny Bluff roofingBryan County code |
| RinconEffingham County | 130 mphultimate wind zone (Hwy 21 open-field corridor) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Rincon roofingEffingham County code |
| GuytonEffingham County | 130 mphultimate (Hwy 21 derecho corridor, ZIP 31312) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Guyton roofingEffingham County code |
| SpringfieldEffingham County | 130 mph6-nail standard (inland; surge not the governing hazard) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Springfield roofingEffingham County code |
| HinesvilleLiberty County | 130 mphultimate wind compliance on every install | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Hinesville roofingLiberty County code |
| Hampton Island PreserveLiberty County | 140 mphultimate wind zone (North Newport River corridor) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Hampton Island Preserve roofingLiberty County code |
| BrunswickGlynn County | 140 mphultimate wind zone under ASCE 7 (coastal A zone; ZIPs 31520, 31525) | AE / VEBay Street Marina, riverfront blocks, and most of downtown fall in FEMA AE, with VE wrapping the immediate waterfront. | Brunswick roofingGlynn County code |
| StatesboroBulloch County | 130 mphwind spec (inland Bulloch County) | —Verify the parcel on the FEMA FIRM map. | Statesboro roofingBulloch County code |
What Each Figure Means for Roofing
Inland & suburban (Chatham/Bryan/Effingham/Liberty/Bulloch)
The 130 mph ultimate design wind speed governs most of the mainland. Fastening pattern: 6-nail on every shingle, ring-shank nails, sealed hip-and-ridge cap, reinforced starter strips. Synthetic or peel-and-stick underlayment handles the long-duration tropical rain that arrives with these systems.
Barrier islands & direct-coast (Tybee, Wilmington, Brunswick)
Open-coastline exposure pushes the design wind speed to 140 mph (exposure category D on oceanfront). The fastening floor is the same 6-nail pattern, plus marine-grade fasteners — 316 stainless and Galvalume substrate — because salt drift, not just wind, decides how long the assembly lasts.
FEMA AE / VE flood footprint
In a Special Flood Hazard Area, the roof is the building's first line of defense before surge reaches the wall sheathing. Penetration sealing assumes horizontal wind-driven rain, ridge venting uses storm collars, and rooftop equipment gets stainless tie-downs. Always confirm your parcel on the FIRM map.
Sources & Methodology
This reference is built on three authoritative bodies of work. Wind speeds are the ASCE 7-16 ultimate design wind speeds adopted under the Georgia building code; flood zones come from the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM); and both are adopted and enforced locally by the county building departments of Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Glynn, and Bulloch.
A note on accuracy: wind-speed and flood-zone values reflect the figures used in our area-by-area roofing data. Where we do not have a specific, sourced flood-zone designation for an area, the table shows an em-dash and defers to the FEMA FIRM map and the relevant county building department — we do not estimate, round, or guess a zone. Wind codes and flood maps are revised periodically; for permitting or design, verify the current figure for your exact parcel with the authorities below.
Wind-Code & Flood-Zone FAQ
What ultimate (ASCE 7) design wind speed applies to a roof in Chatham County, GA?
Chatham County is designated a 130 mph ultimate design wind speed under ASCE 7, and it sits inside the coastal wind-borne-debris region. The barrier islands closest to open water — Tybee, Wilmington Island, and Isle of Hope — sit closer to a 140–150 mph design. Always confirm the exact figure for your parcel with the Chatham County building department before specifying fasteners.
Why are the barrier islands rated at 140 mph instead of 130 mph?
Open-coastline exposure. Tybee Island is mapped at a 140 mph ultimate design wind speed under ASCE 7-16 with exposure category D on most oceanfront lots, and Brunswick (Glynn County) is likewise a 140 mph coastal-A zone. The closer a roof sits to unobstructed water, the higher the design wind speed and the more demanding the fastening pattern — 6-nail with ring-shank nails rather than the older 4-nail builder standard.
What do FEMA flood zones AE, VE, and X mean for my roof?
Flood mapping mostly governs the lowest finished floor, not the roof itself — but the two are connected on the coast. AE is a Special Flood Hazard Area (1%-annual-chance flood). VE is the highest-hazard coastal tier, with velocity wave action. X is outside the mapped high-risk floodplain. In an AE/VE footprint — like Tybee Island or the Brunswick waterfront — the roof becomes the first line of defense against wind-driven rain before surge reaches the wall sheathing, so penetration sealing and storm-collar venting matter more. Look up your exact zone on the FEMA FIRM map.
How was this reference compiled, and where do the numbers come from?
Every wind-speed and flood-zone value on this page is drawn from our own area-by-area roofing data, which in turn reflects the ASCE 7 design wind speeds adopted under the Georgia building code and the county building departments that enforce them. Where we do not have a specific, verifiable flood-zone designation for an area, the table shows an em-dash and points you to the authoritative FEMA FIRM map and the county building department rather than guessing a value.
Does a higher wind code mean a more expensive roof?
It changes the fastening spec more than the headline price. A 130 mph or 140 mph ultimate design wind speed calls for a 6-nail pattern on every shingle, ring-shank nails, sealed hip-and-ridge cap, and reinforced starter strips at every eave and rake. Those are baseline coastal specifications, not premium upgrades. The cost difference over a builder-grade 4-nail install is modest; the difference in how the roof performs in a tropical system is not.
Pair This With the Storm Record
Wind code tells you what a roof is designed to resist; the storm record shows what actually happened. See our Coastal Georgia storm roof-damage field report for neighborhood-by-storm damage, the hurricane roof preparation guide for the pre-season checklist, or browse all our Coastal Georgia roofing guides.
Want to Know Your Exact Wind Code and Flood Zone?
We run free, no-obligation roof inspections across Savannah and Coastal Georgia — and we pull the ASCE wind code and FEMA flood zone for your exact parcel as part of the report.
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