Worth County, Georgia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · GA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 36th
Worth County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 36.5, 36th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Worth County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 36.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 36th 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 Worth County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 30.30 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.20 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.34 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 21K.
Beyond physical exposure, Worth County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Worth County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 7 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 159 Georgia counties, Worth County ranks #80 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 30.30 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.20 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.34 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.84 / yr | $993K |
| Lightning | Low | 69.36 / yr | $217K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $42K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.32 / yr | $201K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $126K |
| Hail | Low | 1.55 / yr | $130K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.44 / yr | $206K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $3K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $11 |
| 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
Worth County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Severe Storm (5), Tornado (3).
| 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 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Worth County?
Worth County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 36.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 36th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Worth County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Worth County compare to other Georgia counties?
Worth County ranks #80 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Worth County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Worth County since 1974, most often 7 for hurricane events and 5 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. Worth County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.