Meriwether County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 19th
Meriwether County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.2, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Meriwether County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 19.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 19th 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 — $255K in expected annual loss and about 52.63 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very Low risk — $74K in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $188K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 21K.
Beyond physical exposure, Meriwether County has a very 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: Meriwether County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 4 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Meriwether County ranks #112 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 52.63 / yr | $255K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $74K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $188K |
| Hail | Low | 4.29 / yr | $154K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.35 / yr | $718K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.63 / yr | $176K |
| Lightning | Low | 63.40 / yr | $116K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.65 / yr | $31K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.14 / yr | $243K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.32 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $87 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $39K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.21 / 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
Meriwether County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Hurricane (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe 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 Meriwether County?
Meriwether County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Meriwether County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $255K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $74K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $188K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Meriwether County compare to other Georgia counties?
Meriwether County ranks #112 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Meriwether County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Meriwether County since 1977, most often 4 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane 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. Meriwether County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.