Turner County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 17th
Turner County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.6, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Turner County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 16.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 17th 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $789K in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $650K in expected annual loss and about 1.46 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $316K in expected annual loss and about 28.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Turner County has a very high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Turner County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including 7 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Turner County ranks #118 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.19 / yr | $789K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.46 / yr | $650K |
| Drought | Medium | 28.89 / yr | $316K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $820K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.84 / yr | $567K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $119K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $17K |
| Lightning | Low | 67.94 / yr | $99K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.80 / yr | $81K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.21 / yr | $82K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $766K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $2K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / 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 |
Disaster History
Turner County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1998, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Storm (4), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 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 |
| January 2017 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
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 Turner County?
Turner County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 17th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Turner County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $789K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $650K EAL), Drought (Medium, $316K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Turner County compare to other Georgia counties?
Turner County ranks #118 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Turner County had?
FEMA records 16 federal disaster declarations for Turner County since 1998, most often 7 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. Turner County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.