Bryan County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 67th
Bryan County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.6, 67th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Bryan County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 66.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 67th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $21M in expected annual loss and about 0.29 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $526K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 8.81 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 44K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bryan County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Bryan County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Bryan County ranks #32 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.29 / yr | $21M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $526K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.81 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.65 / yr | $897K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $699K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $7M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.16 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Low | 69.40 / yr | $175K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.52 / yr | $478K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.40 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.00 / yr | $84K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.66 / yr | $20K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.25 / yr | $178K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $57 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.37 / 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
Bryan County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bryan County?
Bryan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 67th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bryan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $21M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $526K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bryan County compare to other Georgia counties?
Bryan County ranks #32 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bryan County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Bryan County since 1966, most often 9 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. Bryan County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.