Hall County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hall County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Hall County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, lightning, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 31% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (81st 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. Hall County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1966, covering 10 disaster types including hurricane (5), 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 19 total declarations since 1966.
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 | 50.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 86.2 | 11 | 0 | $80K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 84.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 94.1 | 4 | 0 | $85K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 66.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 86.1 | 9 | 0 | $3.6M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 70.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 82.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92.4 | 3 | 0 | $6K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 82.6 | 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
Hall County ranks in the 81st percentile (High) 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 | 81st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 79th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 74th | 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 | 60th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 74.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 27 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (-31% — 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 Hall County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hall County, Georgia are tornado, lightning, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Hall County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hall County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 declarations).
Has Hall County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hall County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1966.
How does Hall County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Forsyth County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Banks County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Hall County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Hall County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hall 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. Hall County's composite score of 84 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 84% of US counties.