Muscogee County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 82th
Muscogee County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 81.6, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $39M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Muscogee County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 81.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 82nd national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 65.90 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 6.21 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $26M in expected annual loss and about 0.71 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $39M in expected annual loss for a population of 206K.
Beyond physical exposure, Muscogee County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Muscogee County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including 5 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Muscogee County ranks #15 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 65.90 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.21 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.71 / yr | $26M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.68 / yr | $827K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.47 / yr | $975K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.17 / yr | $7K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $78K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.40 / yr | $105K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.63 / yr | $22K |
| Drought | Very Low | 45.56 / yr | $13K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $114K |
| 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
Muscogee County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1990, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (5), Severe Storm (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Muscogee County?
Muscogee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 81.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Muscogee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $26M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Muscogee County compare to other Georgia counties?
Muscogee County ranks #15 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Muscogee County had?
FEMA records 13 federal disaster declarations for Muscogee County since 1990, most often 5 for hurricane events and 4 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. Muscogee County's $39M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.