Ben Hill County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

25.4

National percentile: 25th

Ben Hill County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.4, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 17K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Low $811K/yr
Tornado
Low $1M/yr
Drought
Low $191K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Low 0.19 / yr $811K
Tornado Low 0.16 / yr $1M
Drought Low 25.12 / yr $191K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $260K
Lightning Low 67.77 / yr $138K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $19K
Heat Wave Low 4.11 / yr $154K
Cold Wave Low 1.79 / yr $410K
Strong Wind Low 1.48 / yr $237K
Hail Very Low 2.01 / yr $55K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.21 / yr $2M
Winter Weather Very Low 0.58 / yr $5K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.19 / yr $3K
Landslide Very Low 0.03 / yr $2
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ben Hill County?

Ben Hill County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Ben Hill County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $811K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL), Drought (Low, $191K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Ben Hill County compare to other Georgia counties?

Ben Hill County ranks #97 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Ben Hill County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.