Tattnall County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 68th
Tattnall County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 68.4, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tattnall County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 68.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 68th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 22.65 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $535K in expected annual loss and about 69.24 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 23K.
Beyond physical exposure, Tattnall County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Tattnall County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 10 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Tattnall County ranks #28 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.27 / yr | $12M |
| Drought | Medium | 22.65 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 69.24 / yr | $535K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $631K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.79 / yr | $492K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $76K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.22 / yr | $986K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $463K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.39 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 2.24 / yr | $110K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $18K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.39 / yr | $180K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $9K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $25 |
| 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
Tattnall County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Tropical 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 |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Tattnall County?
Tattnall County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 68.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tattnall County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $12M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $535K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tattnall County compare to other Georgia counties?
Tattnall County ranks #28 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Tattnall County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Tattnall County since 1966, most often 10 for hurricane events and 3 for tropical 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. Tattnall County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.