Could Lake Lanier flood my house?
On the gauge's record it has never come close. Its highest recorded level, 1,077.15 feet on April 14, 1964, is 7.85 feet below the National Weather Service's minor flood stage of 1,085 feet (our arithmetic).1 Rain, roofs, pipes and appliances are the more common sources of water inside.
Free service. Call now and we'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works
The data
Lake Lanier's highest levels, against flood stage
Feet above sea level at the gauge on Lake Sidney Lanier near Buford.1
- NWS action stage1,071 ft
- February 24, 2019 crest1,076.16 ft
- Record, April 14, 19641,077.15 ft
- NWS minor flood stage1,085 ftThe record sits 7.85 feet below it (our arithmetic).1
How to read this
The gauge reports the lake's surface in feet above sea level. The National Weather Service sets an action stage at 1,071 feet and minor flooding at 1,085 feet; it lists no moderate or major levels for this gauge.1
The highest crests on the list came in late winter and spring: April 1964, April 1977, February 2019, April 1979 and April 1976 (from the gauge's historic crest list).1
Creeks and storm water are a separate question
A low-lying lot can still take on water from a heavy storm. Helene put 5.16 inches on Gainesville in a single day.2 Water rising from outside is flood, which most Georgia home policies do not cover.3
Flood insurance
Flood cover is a separate policy, and a new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually starts 30 days after purchase.4,3
How this works
What happens when you call
It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.
![A woman on a screened back porch talks on the phone after a summer storm, broken pine branches on the wet lawn.]()
1You call
Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.
- 2
We connect you
A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Gainesville and is taking calls.
![A technician crouches by a washing machine and shows the homeowner its supply hose, a water stain along the wall behind.]()
3They assess and quote
If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.
We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works
Want a local company to look at it?
Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Gainesville answers, and you decide what happens next.
Call (770) 536-9258Gainesville Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works
Sources
Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.
- National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service, Chattahoochee River at Lake Sidney Lanier near Buford (CMMG1): flood categories and historic crests. Read October 24, 2026. water.noaa.gov/gauges/cmmg1
- National Weather Service, Peachtree City/Atlanta office, September 2024 Climate Summary (includes Hurricane Helene, September 24-27). September 2024 data. www.weather.gov/ffc/September2024ClimateSummary
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, Home insurance. No date shown. oci.georgia.gov/insurance-resources/home
- FEMA FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program), Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. No date shown. www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy