Murray County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Murray County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Murray County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, cold wave, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Murray County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1974, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (4), biological (2), severe storm (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 |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1996 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 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 | 53.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 49.6 | 3 | 0 | $3K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 79.7 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 29 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 77.7 | 2 | 8 | $600K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 52.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 18.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 44.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 42.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 75.6 | 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
Murray County ranks in the 68th 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 | 68th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 49th | 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 | 70th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 69th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 89.1% | — |
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 Murray County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Murray County, Georgia are earthquake, cold wave, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Murray County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Murray County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (4 declarations).
Has Murray County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Murray County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Murray County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Whitfield County, GA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Polk County, TN has the lowest (Very Low). Murray County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Murray County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Murray 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. Murray County's composite score of 52 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 52% of US counties.