Wilcox County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 13th
Wilcox County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.2, 13th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wilcox County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 13.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 13th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $714K in expected annual loss and about 28.69 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $220K in expected annual loss and about 7.63 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wilcox County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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.
History supports the rating: Wilcox County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Wilcox County ranks #124 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 28.69 / yr | $714K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.18 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.63 / yr | $220K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.24 / yr | $664K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $100K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.47 / yr | $280K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.99 / yr | $101K |
| Lightning | Low | 66.95 / yr | $88K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $6K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $948K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $33K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $5 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Wilcox County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Storm (3), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wilcox County?
Wilcox County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 13th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wilcox County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $714K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $220K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wilcox County compare to other Georgia counties?
Wilcox County ranks #124 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wilcox County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Wilcox County since 1977, most often 7 for hurricane events and 3 for severe 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. Wilcox County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.