Tift County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 56th
Tift County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 56.0, 56th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Tift County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 56.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 56th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $661K in expected annual loss and about 69.84 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 41K.
Beyond physical exposure, Tift County has a medium 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.
History supports the rating: Tift County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 8 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Tift County ranks #47 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | Medium | 69.84 / yr | $661K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Medium | 24.69 / yr | $388K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $449K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.79 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $596K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $57K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.32 / yr | $365K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.43 / yr | $5M |
| Hail | Low | 1.55 / yr | $145K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.53 / yr | $26K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $8 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Tift County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Severe Storm (4), Tropical Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Tift County?
Tift County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 56.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 56th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tift County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $4M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $661K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tift County compare to other Georgia counties?
Tift County ranks #47 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Tift County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Tift County since 1974, most often 8 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene, declared in September 2024.
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. Tift County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.