Jasper County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk

FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

8.1

National percentile: 8th

Jasper County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.1, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Risk Overview

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jasper County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 8.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 8th 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.

Most of Jasper County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $159K in expected annual loss and about 59.60 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very Low risk — $66K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $25K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 15K.

Beyond physical exposure, Jasper County has a medium 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Jasper County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 6 for hurricane events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.

Among 159 Georgia counties, Jasper County ranks #137 for overall natural disaster risk.

Expected Annual Loss $4M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 15K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Low $159K/yr
Very Low $66K/yr
Very Low $25K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Low 59.60 / yr$159K
Hurricane Very Low 0.06 / yr$66K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr$25K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr$129K
Heat Wave Very Low 5.74 / yr$178K
Ice Storm Low 0.79 / yr$34K
Landslide Very Low 0.35 / yr$295
Hail Very Low 3.83 / yr$107K
Tornado Low 0.22 / yr$461K
Strong Wind Low 2.16 / yr$212K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.21 / yr$2M
Lightning Very Low 59.79 / yr$43K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.37 / yr$93K
Winter Weather Very Low 1.21 / yr$2K
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

Jasper County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (3), Biological (2).

DeclaredTypeDisaster
January 2026Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
September 2024HurricaneHurricane Helene
September 2024Tropical StormHurricane Helene
January 2023Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
March 2020BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
March 2020BiologicalCovid-19
October 2018HurricaneHurricane Michael
September 2017HurricaneHurricane Irma
September 2017HurricaneHurricane Irma
March 2014Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm

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 Jasper County?

Jasper County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Jasper County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Low, $159K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $66K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $25K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Jasper County compare to other Georgia counties?

Jasper County ranks #137 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

How many federally declared disasters has Jasper County had?

FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Jasper County since 1977, most often 6 for hurricane events and 3 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. Jasper County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.