Thomas County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

66.0

National percentile: 66th

Thomas County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.0, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $20M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 46K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Medium $9M/yr
Lightning
Medium $522K/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Medium 0.25 / yr $9M
Lightning Medium 74.33 / yr $522K
Cold Wave Medium 1.63 / yr $2M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $151K
Heat Wave Low 5.05 / yr $482K
Riverine Flood Low 0.61 / yr $7M
Drought Low 25.92 / yr $152K
Tornado Low 0.32 / yr $1M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $201K
Strong Wind Low 1.60 / yr $263K
Hail Very Low 1.27 / yr $107K
Winter Weather Low 0.32 / yr $22K
Landslide Very Low 0.07 / yr $46
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $3K
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 Thomas County?

Thomas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Thomas County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $9M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $522K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Thomas County compare to other Georgia counties?

Thomas County ranks #34 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. Thomas County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.