Evans County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 22th
Evans County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.9, 22th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Evans 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $256K in expected annual loss and about 24.06 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $314K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Evans 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.
History supports the rating: Evans County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Evans County ranks #104 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Low | 24.06 / yr | $256K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $314K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $31K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.90 / yr | $229K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $460K |
| Lightning | Low | 68.91 / yr | $83K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $51K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $10K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $142K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.38 / yr | $71K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $12 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Evans County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical 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 |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
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 Evans County?
Evans 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 Evans County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $2M EAL), Drought (Low, $256K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $314K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Evans County compare to other Georgia counties?
Evans County ranks #104 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Evans County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Evans County since 1993, most often 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical 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. Evans County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.