Athens-Clarke County, GA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Athens-Clarke County is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Clarke County, GA. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, earthquake, and lightning.
Storm events near Athens-Clarke County
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Athens-Clarke County's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Athens-Clarke County itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Clarke County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Athens-Clarke County along with the rest of the county, not a Athens-Clarke County-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 25.6 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 70.7 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 83.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 73.1 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 79.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 66.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 44.8 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 78.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 71.3 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 83.7 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 27.9 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 80 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 57.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 17.8 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Clarke County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Clarke County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Athens-Clarke County, GA at risk of?
Athens-Clarke County is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Clarke County, where Athens-Clarke County is located, are ice storm, earthquake, and lightning.
What is Athens-Clarke County's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Clarke County, where Athens-Clarke County is located, scoring 83.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Athens-Clarke County a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Athens-Clarke County carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Clarke County.
Has Athens-Clarke County had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 9 tornado, 35 hail, 30 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Athens-Clarke County since 2016.