Long County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Long County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.0, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Long County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 8.0 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.30 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $119K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $354K in expected annual loss and about 8.38 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Long County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
History supports the rating: Long County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Long County ranks #139 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.30 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $119K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.38 / yr | $354K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $153K |
| Lightning | Low | 71.75 / yr | $130K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $510K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $368 |
| Drought | Very Low | 21.23 / yr | $3K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $173K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.08 / yr | $54K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.10 / yr | $103K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $5K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $4 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Long County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Tropical Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Long County?
Long County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.0 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 Long County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $119K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $354K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Long County compare to other Georgia counties?
Long County ranks #139 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Long County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Long County since 1966, most often 9 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene, declared in September 2024.
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. Long County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.