McIntosh County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
McIntosh County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Hurricane Debby in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
McIntosh County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, wildfire, and coastal flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (71st 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. McIntosh County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (10), tropical storm (3), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 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 | Relatively Low | 87.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 18.1 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 70.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 49.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 18.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 94.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 18.7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 35 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 37.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 16.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 32.3 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 12.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
McIntosh County ranks in the 71st 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 | 71st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 91st | High |
| Household characteristics | 33rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 76th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 82nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 91.4% | — |
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 McIntosh County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in McIntosh County, Georgia are hurricane, wildfire, and coastal flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has McIntosh County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. McIntosh County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has McIntosh County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for McIntosh County include Tropical Storm Debby (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Debby (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does McIntosh County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chatham County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Long County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). McIntosh County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is McIntosh County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
McIntosh 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. McIntosh County's composite score of 67 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 67% of US counties.