Putnam County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

53.3

National percentile: 53th

Putnam County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.3, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $12M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 22K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $800K/yr
Hurricane
Low $483K/yr
Riverine Flood
Low $8M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 56.53 / yr $800K
Hurricane Low 0.06 / yr $483K
Riverine Flood Low 0.54 / yr $8M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $72K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $302K
Ice Storm Low 0.75 / yr $87K
Hail Low 3.61 / yr $235K
Heat Wave Low 6.11 / yr $349K
Tornado Low 0.21 / yr $843K
Strong Wind Low 2.12 / yr $291K
Cold Wave Low 0.37 / yr $286K
Lightning Low 59.59 / yr $68K
Landslide Very Low 0.24 / yr $155
Winter Weather Very Low 1.26 / yr $5K
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 Putnam County?

Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $800K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $483K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $8M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Putnam County compare to other Georgia counties?

Putnam County ranks #51 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. Putnam County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.