Decatur County
Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 76th
Decatur County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 75.9, 76th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 74.46 / yr | $654K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.44 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $11M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.68 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 31.61 / yr | $416K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $73K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.47 / yr | $231K |
| Hail | Low | 1.16 / yr | $136K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $101K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.63 / yr | $227K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $14K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $74 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Decatur County?
Decatur County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 75.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 76th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Decatur County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Lightning (High, $654K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Decatur County compare to other Georgia counties?
Decatur County ranks #20 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
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. Decatur County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.