Floyd County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 82th
Floyd County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.0, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $40M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Floyd County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 82.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 82nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.38 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 3.59 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $40M in expected annual loss for a population of 99K.
Beyond physical exposure, Floyd County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Floyd County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 5 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Floyd County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.38 / yr | $10M |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.59 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $19M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.51 / yr | $14K |
| Hail | Medium | 5.36 / yr | $592K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $210K |
| Lightning | Medium | 61.75 / yr | $470K |
| Drought | Medium | 31.36 / yr | $425K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $145K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.11 / yr | $587K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $260K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.00 / yr | $17K |
| 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
Floyd County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Hurricane (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| March 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
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 Floyd County?
Floyd County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Floyd County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $10M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Floyd County compare to other Georgia counties?
Floyd County ranks #14 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Floyd County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Floyd County since 1966, most often 5 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane 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. Floyd County's $40M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.