Paulding County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Paulding County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.0, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $40M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Paulding County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 70.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Paulding County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 62.26 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $40M in expected annual loss for a population of 169K.
Beyond physical exposure, Paulding County has a very low 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Paulding County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 6 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, Paulding County ranks #27 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $9M |
| Lightning | High | 62.26 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $21M |
| Hail | Low | 5.64 / yr | $870K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $945K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $169K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.51 / yr | $5K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.75 / yr | $222K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.16 / yr | $754K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $128K |
| Drought | Low | 36.92 / yr | $68K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.06 / yr | $491K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.74 / yr | $24K |
| 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
Paulding County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe 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 |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| February 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Paulding County?
Paulding County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Paulding County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $9M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Paulding County compare to other Georgia counties?
Paulding County ranks #27 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Paulding County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Paulding County since 1966, most often 6 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. Paulding County's $40M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.