Brooks County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Brooks County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.1, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Brooks County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 42.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 42nd 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 Brooks County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $987K in expected annual loss and about 75.07 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.25 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brooks County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Brooks County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 8 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Brooks County ranks #71 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 75.07 / yr | $987K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.25 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.27 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $44K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.42 / yr | $754K |
| Drought | Low | 23.00 / yr | $137K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.05 / yr | $167K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $69K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $73K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.46 / yr | $111K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $7K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $4 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Brooks County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Tropical Storm (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brooks County?
Brooks County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brooks County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $987K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brooks County compare to other Georgia counties?
Brooks County ranks #71 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brooks County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Brooks County since 1977, most often 8 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene, declared in September 2024.
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. Brooks County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.