Pulaski County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Pulaski County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.2, 18th 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 Pulaski County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 18.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 18th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $721K in expected annual loss and about 46.67 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $584K in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $585K in expected annual loss and about 1.47 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pulaski 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 federal record bears this out: Pulaski County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 7 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, Pulaski County ranks #115 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 46.67 / yr | $721K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.13 / yr | $584K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.47 / yr | $585K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $45K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.63 / yr | $318K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $135K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $73K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.15 / yr | $298K |
| Lightning | Low | 66.02 / yr | $59K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $64K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $12 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.31 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Pulaski County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), 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 |
| 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 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pulaski County?
Pulaski County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pulaski County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $721K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $584K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $585K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pulaski County compare to other Georgia counties?
Pulaski County ranks #115 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pulaski County had?
FEMA records 16 federal disaster declarations for Pulaski County since 1977, most often 7 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. Pulaski County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.