HazardFacts

All states › Georgia › Fulton County

Natural hazard risk in Fulton County, Georgia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 95.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$234.6 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1975
20[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$95.8 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
40[4]

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Fulton County, Georgia as Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are lightning, inland flooding and tornado[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Fulton County at $234.6 million a year[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. The largest parts of that estimate come from inland flooding ($164.3 million a year), earthquake ($22.1 million a year) and tornado ($21.7 million a year)[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Very Low, with a score of 19.7[9]. FEMA describes this as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Relatively High, with a score of 76.4[10]. That is a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LightningVery High$3.9 million[11]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$164.3 million[12]
TornadoRelatively High$21.7 million[13]
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$22.1 million[14]
HailRelatively High$4.1 million[15]
Strong WindRelatively High$3.1 million[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$4.6 million[17]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$75,000[18]
Ice StormRelatively High$1.2 million[19]
Cold WaveRelatively High$8.2 million[20]
HurricaneRelatively Low$1.1 million[21]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$171,000[22]
WildfireVery Low$65,000[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low19.7[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High76.4[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Fulton County as Relatively High, with a score of 97.6 out of 100[12]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 show 2,308 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 302,999 residential structures[25]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 40.2% of homes are insured, with 1,030 contracts for 2,562 residential structures[25]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims show 3,100 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $95.8 million in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[12] Relatively High, $164.3 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 2,308 of 302,999 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 2,562, of which 1,030 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 3,100 filed, $95.8 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Fulton County since 1975[2]. The most recent listed is EM-3657-GA for Hurricane Isaias, declared 2026-10-09[27]. NOAA's tornado database records 40 tornadoes that touched Fulton County from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-01-09[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Fulton County, since 1975
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 6
Severe Storm[2] 5
Tropical Storm[2] 2
Tornado[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3657-GA[27] Hurricane Isaias 2026-10-09
EM-3642-GA[27] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
DR-4830-GA[27] Hurricane Helene 2024-09-30
EM-3616-GA[27] Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26
DR-4338-GA[27] Hurricane Irma 2017-09-15

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Questions people ask

Is Fulton County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Fulton County as Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 97.6 out of 100[12]. FEMA lists $164.3 million a year in expected annual loss from inland flooding[12].
Does Fulton County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 40 tornadoes that touched Fulton County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[13].
Is Fulton County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk in Fulton County as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 95.9 out of 100[14]. FEMA lists $22.1 million a year in expected annual loss from earthquakes[14].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Fulton County?
OpenFEMA lists 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Fulton County since 1975[2]. Of these, 12 were major disaster declarations and 8 were emergency or fire management declarations[2].
How can I check the flood zone of an address in Fulton County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26]. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[26].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Fulton County is $234.6 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 96.5). Of this, buildings account for $200.0 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $34.6... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Fulton County since 1975 (12 major disaster, 8 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 6, severe storm 5, tropical storm 2, tornado 2, severe ice storm 2, winter storm 1, drought 1,... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 3,100 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Fulton County, 2,435 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $95.8 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 40 recorded tornadoes touched Fulton County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1975-03-24). 3 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-01-09. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Fulton County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Fulton County are lightning (98.2, Very High), inland flooding (97.6, Relatively High), tornado (97.0, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Fulton County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($164.3 million a year), earthquake ($22.1 million a year), tornado ($21.7 million a year), out of $234.6 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Fulton County is Very Low (score 19.7). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Fulton County is Relatively High (score 76.4). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.9 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 63.78 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $164.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26... FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $21.7 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.34 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 95.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $22.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0022 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 5.6 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 93.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.75 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.26 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $75,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.22 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 89.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 74.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for... FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 72.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $171,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.52 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Fulton County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 52.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $65,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Fulton County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 2,308 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Fulton County, out of 302,999 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.8%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,562 residential structures and 1,030 contracts,... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  27. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.