Habersham County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 39th
Habersham County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.9, 39th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Habersham County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 38.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 39th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $623K in expected annual loss and about 61.68 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $289K in expected annual loss and about 1.59 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $12M in expected annual loss for a population of 46K.
Beyond physical exposure, Habersham County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Habersham County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Habersham County ranks #77 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 61.68 / yr | $623K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.59 / yr | $289K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.53 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.81 / yr | $5K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $555K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.15 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $164K |
| Hail | Low | 4.55 / yr | $262K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $43K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.18 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.36 / yr | $404K |
| Drought | Low | 40.01 / yr | $39K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 5.48 / yr | $12K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $13K |
| 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
Habersham County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1976, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Ice Storm (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
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 Habersham County?
Habersham County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 39th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Habersham County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $623K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $289K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Habersham County compare to other Georgia counties?
Habersham County ranks #77 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Habersham County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Habersham County since 1976, most often 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe ice 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. Habersham County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.