Crisp County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 52th
Crisp County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 52.3, 52th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Crisp County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 52.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 52nd 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.
Most of Crisp County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $998K in expected annual loss and about 33.29 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Crisp County has a very high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Crisp County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Crisp County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 33.29 / yr | $998K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.18 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $363K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $59K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.53 / yr | $359K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.46 / yr | $458K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.75 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | Low | 66.96 / yr | $164K |
| Hail | Low | 1.88 / yr | $126K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $6K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $14 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $30K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Crisp County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Storm (3), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Crisp County?
Crisp County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 52.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 52th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Crisp County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $998K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Crisp County compare to other Georgia counties?
Crisp County ranks #55 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Crisp County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Crisp County since 1977, most often 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe 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. Crisp County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.