Jenkins County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Jenkins County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.8, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought 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 Jenkins County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 10.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 11th 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $793K in expected annual loss and about 0.17 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $336K in expected annual loss and about 34.80 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $293K 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 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jenkins 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: Jenkins County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Jenkins County ranks #130 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.17 / yr | $793K |
| Drought | Medium | 34.80 / yr | $336K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $293K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.32 / yr | $219K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.17 / yr | $410K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $162K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.61 / yr | $130K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.48 / yr | $46K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 64.54 / yr | $42K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.94 / yr | $7K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $17 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.95 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Jenkins County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| September 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
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 Jenkins County?
Jenkins County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jenkins County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $793K EAL), Drought (Medium, $336K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $293K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jenkins County compare to other Georgia counties?
Jenkins County ranks #130 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jenkins County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Jenkins County since 1977, most often 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical 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. Jenkins County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.