Rabun County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Rabun County has experienced 21 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.
Rabun County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, lightning, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 22 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Rabun County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1974, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (8), severe storm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 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 | Relatively Low | 64.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 58.1 | 12 | 0 | $24K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 50.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 45.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 61.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 35.5 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 24.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 61.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 75.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 80.6 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 33.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 92.8 | 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
Rabun County ranks in the 44th percentile (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 | 44th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 37th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 35th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 33rd | 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 | 77th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 75th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 92.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 22 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Rabun County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Rabun County, Georgia are landslide, lightning, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Rabun County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Rabun County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Rabun County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Rabun County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Rabun County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Oconee County, SC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Clay County, NC has the lowest (Very Low). Rabun County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Rabun County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Rabun 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. Rabun County's composite score of 45 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 45% of US counties.