Decatur County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
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
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Decatur County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 75.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 76th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.23 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $654K in expected annual loss and about 74.46 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.44 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $23M in expected annual loss for a population of 29K.
Beyond physical exposure, Decatur County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
History supports the rating: Decatur County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 7 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Decatur County ranks #20 for overall natural disaster risk.
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 |
Disaster History
Decatur County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Storm (5), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 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 |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
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 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.
How many federally declared disasters has Decatur County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Decatur County since 1966, most often 7 for hurricane events and 5 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. Decatur County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.