Fulton County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Fulton County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.8, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $235M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Fulton County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. 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 lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 63.78 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $164M in expected annual loss and about 2.71 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $22M in expected annual loss and about 0.34 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $235M in expected annual loss for a population of 1.07M.
Beyond physical exposure, Fulton County has a very low 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Fulton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Fulton County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 63.78 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.71 / yr | $164M |
| Tornado | High | 0.34 / yr | $22M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $22M |
| Hail | High | 5.60 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.75 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.26 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.03 / yr | $75K |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.22 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.89 / yr | $8M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.52 / yr | $171K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $65K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 35.64 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Fulton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (5), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| March 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fulton County?
Fulton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fulton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $164M EAL), Tornado (High, $22M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fulton County compare to other Georgia counties?
Fulton County ranks #2 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fulton County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Fulton County since 1975, most often 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe 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. Fulton County's $235M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.