Twiggs County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Twiggs County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.5, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Twiggs County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 8.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 8th 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.
Most of Twiggs County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $358K in expected annual loss and about 46.85 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $587K in expected annual loss and about 7.26 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $133K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Twiggs 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Twiggs County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 7 for hurricane events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Twiggs County ranks #135 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 46.85 / yr | $358K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.26 / yr | $587K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $133K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $47K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $85K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $233 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $239K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.41 / yr | $12K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.60 / yr | $44K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.50 / yr | $104K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 63.66 / yr | $22K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $20K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $996 |
| 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
Twiggs County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Biological (2), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| March 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Twiggs County?
Twiggs County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Twiggs County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $358K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $587K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $133K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Twiggs County compare to other Georgia counties?
Twiggs County ranks #135 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Twiggs County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Twiggs County since 1977, most often 7 for hurricane events and 2 for biological 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. Twiggs County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.