Walker County, GA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Walker County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Walker County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Walker County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1973, covering 9 disaster types including severe storm (5), hurricane (4), 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 |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Associated Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 60.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 65.5 | 6 | 0 | $28K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 79.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 61 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 93.1 | 2 | 0 | $310K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 52.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 42 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 66.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 68.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 61.5 | 1 | 0 | $150K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 68.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 75.5 | 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
Walker 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 | 82nd | High |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 29th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | 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 | 76th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 71st | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 82.6% | — |
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 Walker County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Walker County, Georgia are tornado, cold wave, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Walker County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Walker County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Walker County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Walker County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Walker County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hamilton County, TN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Dade County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Walker County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Walker County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Walker 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. Walker County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.