Sumter County

Georgia — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

53.2

National percentile: 53th

Sumter County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.2, 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 Medium Capacity to recover
Population 30K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
High $2M/yr
Hurricane
Low $1M/yr
Heat Wave
Low $588K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought High 54.45 / yr $2M
Hurricane Low 0.13 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Low 7.32 / yr $588K
Tornado Medium 0.34 / yr $1M
Lightning Medium 66.71 / yr $273K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $79K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $385K
Hail Low 1.99 / yr $294K
Strong Wind Medium 1.44 / yr $444K
Riverine Flood Low 0.43 / yr $5M
Landslide Very Low 0.11 / yr $283
Winter Weather Very Low 0.32 / yr $8K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.24 / yr $4K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.26 / yr $55K
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 Sumter County?

Sumter County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.2 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 Sumter County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $588K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Sumter County compare to other Georgia counties?

Sumter County ranks #52 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. Sumter County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.