Dougherty County
Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Dougherty County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.8, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $36M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 70.02 / yr | $951K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.96 / yr | $22M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $967K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.53 / yr | $889K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.42 / yr | $736K |
| Drought | Medium | 38.87 / yr | $406K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $129K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.89 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 1.41 / yr | $199K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.47 / yr | $43K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $10K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $49 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Dougherty County?
Dougherty County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dougherty County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $951K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $22M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dougherty County compare to other Georgia counties?
Dougherty County ranks #13 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Dougherty County's $36M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.