Cobb County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Cobb County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.4, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $210M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Cobb County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 94.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $36M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 5.63 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 62.25 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $210M in expected annual loss for a population of 765K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cobb County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low 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: Cobb County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 5 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Cobb County ranks #4 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.21 / yr | $36M |
| Hail | High | 5.63 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Very High | 62.25 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.11 / yr | $20M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.29 / yr | $125M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.16 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $10M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.16 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.78 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.30 / yr | $14K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.79 / yr | $224K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $660K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $68K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 34.84 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Cobb County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (5), Severe Storm (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cobb County?
Cobb County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cobb County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $36M EAL), Hail (High, $6M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cobb County compare to other Georgia counties?
Cobb County ranks #4 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cobb County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Cobb County since 1966, most often 5 for hurricane events and 4 for severe 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. Cobb County's $210M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.