Chatham County
Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Chatham County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.4, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $277M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.35 / yr | $189M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.67 / yr | $13M |
| Lightning | High | 64.88 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.53 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $12M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.29 / yr | $42M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.48 / yr | $891K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.12 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.19 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 1.71 / yr | $532K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $120K |
| Drought | Low | 18.34 / yr | $54K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $102 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chatham County?
Chatham County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chatham County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $189M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $13M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chatham County compare to other Georgia counties?
Chatham County ranks #1 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Chatham County's $277M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.