Habersham County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Habersham County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Habersham County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, ice storm, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 36% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (73rd 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. Habersham County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1976, covering 10 disaster types including hurricane (7), severe ice storm (3), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 48.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 44.1 | 15 | 0 | $226K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 63.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 60.7 | 3 | 0 | $22K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 58.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 50.6 | 15 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 15.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 75.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 71.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 34.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 68.9 | 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
Habersham County ranks in the 73rd 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 | 73rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 71st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 64th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 69th | Moderate |
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 | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 68th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 85.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 33 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (+36% — frequency increasing).
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 Habersham County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Habersham County, Georgia are lightning, ice storm, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Habersham County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Habersham County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Habersham County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Habersham County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1976.
How does Habersham County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, White County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Banks County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Habersham County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Habersham County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Habersham 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. Habersham County's composite score of 39 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 39% of US counties.