Dougherty County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Dougherty County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.8, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $36M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Dougherty County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 82.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 83rd national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Dougherty County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $951K in expected annual loss and about 70.02 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.20 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $22M in expected annual loss and about 0.96 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $36M in expected annual loss for a population of 86K.
Beyond physical exposure, Dougherty County has a very high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Dougherty County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (tropical storm), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Dougherty County ranks #13 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 70.02 / yr | $951K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.96 / yr | $22M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $967K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.53 / yr | $889K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.42 / yr | $736K |
| Drought | Medium | 38.87 / yr | $406K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $129K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.89 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 1.41 / yr | $199K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.47 / yr | $43K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $10K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $49 |
| 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
Dougherty County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (5), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| January 2017 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| January 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| April 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
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 Dougherty County?
Dougherty County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dougherty County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $951K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $22M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dougherty County compare to other Georgia counties?
Dougherty County ranks #13 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Dougherty County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Dougherty County since 1966, most often 6 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. Dougherty County's $36M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.