Gainesville, GA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Gainesville is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Hall County, GA. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, lightning, and cold wave.
Storm events near Gainesville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Gainesville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Gainesville 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 Hall County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Gainesville along with the rest of the county, not a Gainesville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 50.4 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 86.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 84.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 66.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 94.1 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 87.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 40.6 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 86.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 66.9 | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | 82.4 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 82.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 92.4 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 70.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 34.2 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Hall County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Hall County:
More on Hall County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Gainesville, GA at risk of?
Gainesville is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Hall County, where Gainesville is located, are tornado, lightning, and cold wave.
What is Gainesville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Hall County, where Gainesville is located, scoring 94.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Gainesville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Gainesville carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Hall County.
Has Gainesville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 14 tornado, 75 hail, 60 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Gainesville since 2016.