Bulloch County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 75th
Bulloch County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 75.4, 75th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Bulloch County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 75.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 75th 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 Medium risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $3M 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 Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 8.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 81K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bulloch County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Bulloch County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Bulloch County ranks #21 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $12M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.16 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 25.43 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.30 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $259K |
| Lightning | Medium | 66.95 / yr | $448K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $108K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.50 / yr | $9M |
| Hail | Low | 2.33 / yr | $349K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.58 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.86 / yr | $284K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.74 / yr | $28K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $160 |
| 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
Bulloch County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bulloch County?
Bulloch County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 75.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 75th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bulloch County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $12M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bulloch County compare to other Georgia counties?
Bulloch County ranks #21 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bulloch County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Bulloch County since 1977, most often 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 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. Bulloch County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.