Rabun County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

45.3

National percentile: 45th

Rabun County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 45.3, 45th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $10M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 17K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $58K/yr
Lightning
Medium $516K/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.26 / yr $58K
Lightning Medium 60.77 / yr $516K
Cold Wave Medium 1.16 / yr $2M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $79K
Hurricane Low 0.04 / yr $170K
Ice Storm Medium 1.18 / yr $101K
Riverine Flood Low 0.96 / yr $6M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $196K
Tornado Low 0.18 / yr $741K
Hail Low 4.13 / yr $104K
Drought Low 35.82 / yr $25K
Strong Wind Low 2.24 / yr $157K
Winter Weather Very Low 7.40 / yr $6K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $2
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rabun County?

Rabun County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 45.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 45th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Rabun County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $58K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $516K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Rabun County compare to other Georgia counties?

Rabun County ranks #64 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.

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. Rabun County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.