Clinch County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 21th
Clinch County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 20.7, 21th 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
Clinch County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 20.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 21st 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 — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.29 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $37K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $95K in expected annual loss and about 27.08 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clinch County has a very high 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). 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: Clinch County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 8 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Pineland Road Fire (fire), declared in April 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Clinch County ranks #107 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.29 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $37K |
| Drought | Low | 27.08 / yr | $95K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $72K |
| Lightning | Low | 75.54 / yr | $82K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.40 / yr | $313K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.53 / yr | $75K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $95K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $27K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.04 / yr | $51K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $2K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $492 |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $0 |
| 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
Clinch County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Pineland Road Fire in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Tropical Storm (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Fire | Pineland Road 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 |
| 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 Clinch County?
Clinch County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 20.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 21th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clinch County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $37K EAL), Drought (Low, $95K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clinch County compare to other Georgia counties?
Clinch County ranks #107 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clinch County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Clinch County since 1977, most often 8 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Pineland Road 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. Clinch County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.