Fulton County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

95.8

National percentile: 96th

Fulton County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.8, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $235M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $235M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 1.07M Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Lightning
Very High $4M/yr
Riverine Flood
High $164M/yr
Tornado
High $22M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Lightning Very High 63.78 / yr $4M
Riverine Flood High 2.71 / yr $164M
Tornado High 0.34 / yr $22M
Earthquake Medium 0.00 / yr $22M
Hail High 5.60 / yr $4M
Strong Wind High 2.75 / yr $3M
Heat Wave Medium 2.26 / yr $5M
Landslide Medium 1.03 / yr $75K
Ice Storm High 1.22 / yr $1M
Cold Wave High 0.89 / yr $8M
Hurricane Low 0.04 / yr $1M
Winter Weather Medium 2.52 / yr $171K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $65K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought Very Low 35.64 / 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 Fulton County?

Fulton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Fulton County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $164M EAL), Tornado (High, $22M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Fulton County compare to other Georgia counties?

Fulton County ranks #2 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. Fulton County's $235M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.