Brantley County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Brantley County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.3, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Brantley County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 18.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 18th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Brantley County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.32 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $152K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $174K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brantley County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Brantley County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 10 for hurricane events and 3 for fire events. The most recent was Highway 82 Fire (fire), declared in April 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Brantley County ranks #114 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.32 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $152K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $174K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.79 / yr | $232K |
| Drought | Low | 23.17 / yr | $64K |
| Lightning | Low | 73.56 / yr | $142K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.26 / yr | $489K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $544K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $17K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $316 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.92 / yr | $99K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.78 / yr | $28K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $15 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Brantley County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Highway 82 Fire in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Fire (3), Tropical Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Fire | Highway 82 Fire |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| September 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brantley County?
Brantley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brantley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $152K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $174K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brantley County compare to other Georgia counties?
Brantley County ranks #114 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brantley County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Brantley County since 1977, most often 10 for hurricane events and 3 for fire events. The most recent was Highway 82 Fire, declared in April 2026.
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. Brantley County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.