Forsyth County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Forsyth County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Forsyth County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, inland flooding, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 37% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (7th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Forsyth County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1974, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (6), biological (2), severe ice storm (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 |
| 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 total declarations since 1974.
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 | 48.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 90 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 82.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 94.3 | 3 | 0 | $40K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 55.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 87.5 | 17 | 0 | $5.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 71 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 27.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 79.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 86.6 | 4 | 0 | $46K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 74 | 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
Forsyth County ranks in the 7th percentile (Very low) 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 | 7th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 7th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 71st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 3rd | Very 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 | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 10 in 2021–25 (-37% — frequency decreasing).
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 Forsyth County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Forsyth County, Georgia are tornado, inland flooding, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Forsyth County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Forsyth County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Forsyth County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Forsyth County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Forsyth County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Gwinnett County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Dawson County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Forsyth County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Forsyth County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Forsyth 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. Forsyth County's composite score of 86 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 86% of US counties.