Harris County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Harris County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Harris County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hurricane, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. 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. Harris County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (6), severe storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Associated Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 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 | 49 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 6 | 0 | $35K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 36.7 | 7 | 0 | $970K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 64.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 39 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 19.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 25.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 5.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 69.8 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 50.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 43.6 | 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
Harris 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 | 20th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 9th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | 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 | 72nd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 67th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 94.3% | — |
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 Harris County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Harris County, Georgia are lightning, hurricane, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Harris County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Harris County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Harris County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Harris County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Harris County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Muscogee County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Chattahoochee County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Harris County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Harris County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Harris 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. Harris County's composite score of 21 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 21% of US counties.