Gilmer County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

68.1

National percentile: 68th

Gilmer County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 68.1, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $19M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 31K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $118K/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $3M/yr
Lightning
Medium $521K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.55 / yr $118K
Cold Wave Medium 2.42 / yr $3M
Lightning Medium 61.32 / yr $521K
Riverine Flood Medium 0.89 / yr $12M
Tornado Medium 0.24 / yr $2M
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $654K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $135K
Drought Low 37.69 / yr $230K
Hurricane Low 0.02 / yr $141K
Strong Wind Medium 3.43 / yr $509K
Hail Low 5.27 / yr $253K
Ice Storm Low 0.78 / yr $70K
Winter Weather Low 7.53 / yr $22K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.11 / yr $7K
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 Gilmer County?

Gilmer County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 68.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Gilmer County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $118K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $521K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Gilmer County compare to other Georgia counties?

Gilmer County ranks #29 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Gilmer County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.