Jefferson County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Jefferson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.8, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Jefferson County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 25.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 26th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 50.17 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $859K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $480K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jefferson County has a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Jefferson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, 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, Jefferson County ranks #95 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 50.17 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $859K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $480K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.82 / yr | $78K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.26 / yr | $342K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $39K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.25 / yr | $844K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.46 / yr | $299K |
| Hail | Low | 2.28 / yr | $115K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 62.59 / yr | $61K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $216K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $92 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.74 / 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
Jefferson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (3), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $859K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $480K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Georgia counties?
Jefferson County ranks #95 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jefferson County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County since 1966, 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. Jefferson County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.