Charlton County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 27th
Charlton County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.7, 27th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Charlton County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 26.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 27th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $125K 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 — $188K in expected annual loss and about 4.96 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Charlton 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.
History supports the rating: Charlton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 9 for hurricane events and 4 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Charlton County ranks #94 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $125K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.96 / yr | $188K |
| Lightning | Low | 76.93 / yr | $106K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $71K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.40 / yr | $257K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $11K |
| Drought | Very Low | 26.00 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $73 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.04 / yr | $94K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.27 / yr | $42K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $9 |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.97 / yr | $13K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Charlton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Fire (4), Tropical 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 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 Charlton County?
Charlton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 27th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Charlton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $125K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $188K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Charlton County compare to other Georgia counties?
Charlton County ranks #94 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Charlton County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Charlton County since 1977, most often 9 for hurricane events and 4 for fire 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. Charlton County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.