Montgomery County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Montgomery County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 7.8, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Montgomery County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 7.8 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 — $455K in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $253K in expected annual loss and about 22.53 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $192K in expected annual loss and about 7.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montgomery 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.
History supports the rating: Montgomery County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 8 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, Montgomery County ranks #142 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.19 / yr | $455K |
| Drought | Low | 22.53 / yr | $253K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.89 / yr | $192K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $106K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $16K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.13 / yr | $422K |
| Lightning | Low | 67.96 / yr | $75K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $9K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.18 / yr | $32K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.37 / yr | $81K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $54K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $3 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Montgomery County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), 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 |
| 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 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
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 Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 7.8 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 Montgomery County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $455K EAL), Drought (Low, $253K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $192K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montgomery County compare to other Georgia counties?
Montgomery County ranks #142 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montgomery County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County since 1966, most often 8 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. Montgomery County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.