Dawson County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 22th
Dawson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.9, 22th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Dawson County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 21.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 22nd 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 lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $553K in expected annual loss and about 60.22 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $5K in expected annual loss and about 0.62 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.12 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 27K.
Beyond physical exposure, Dawson County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Dawson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Dawson County ranks #103 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 60.22 / yr | $553K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.62 / yr | $5K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.12 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $350K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.21 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.05 / yr | $583K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.09 / yr | $75K |
| Drought | Low | 37.52 / yr | $75K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $29K |
| Hail | Low | 5.20 / yr | $171K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $22K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 6.47 / yr | $16K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $40K |
| 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
Dawson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe 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 |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
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 Dawson County?
Dawson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 21.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 22th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dawson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $553K EAL), Landslide (Low, $5K EAL), Tornado (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dawson County compare to other Georgia counties?
Dawson County ranks #103 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Dawson County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Dawson County since 1974, most often 7 for hurricane events and 3 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. Dawson County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.