Douglas County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Douglas County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Douglas County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, lightning, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 21 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (70th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Douglas County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (6), hurricane (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1977.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 43.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 70.5 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 76 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 58.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 85 | 2 | 0 | $280K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 53.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 75.7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 16.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 74.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 69.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.1 | 4 | 0 | $40K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 56.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Douglas County ranks in the 70th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 72nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 94th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 67th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 62nd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 67.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 21 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 7 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 .
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Douglas County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Douglas County, Georgia are tornado, lightning, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Douglas County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Douglas County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Douglas County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Douglas County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Douglas County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Fulton County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Coweta County, GA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Douglas County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Douglas County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Douglas County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Douglas County's composite score of 66 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 66% of US counties.