Jefferson County
Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Jefferson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.8, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 50.17 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $859K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $480K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.82 / yr | $78K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.26 / yr | $342K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $39K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.25 / yr | $844K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.46 / yr | $299K |
| Hail | Low | 2.28 / yr | $115K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 62.59 / yr | $61K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $216K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $92 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.74 / yr | $4K |
| 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $859K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $480K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Georgia counties?
Jefferson County ranks #95 of 159 Georgia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Jefferson County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.