Chatham County, Georgia: hazard risk
FEMA rates Chatham County's overall risk Relatively High (score 97.4 of 100, higher than 97% of rated U.S. counties); 4 of its 15 hazards are rated Relatively High or Very High, led by hurricane, coastal flooding, lightning. Its storm record holds 1,332 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Very High | 99.4 | $189M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 96.0 | $13M |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 95.4 | $2.0M |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89.6 | $891K |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 95.3 | $6.4M |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 94.4 | $12M |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 92.4 | $2.0M |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 90.8 | $42M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 80.5 | $1.3M |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.7 | $3.6M |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 77.4 | $3.4M |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 67.9 | $120K |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.1 | $532K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 37.8 | $54K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 18.8 | $102 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 617 | 2 | $7.0M | 8th of 159 | 47th of 3,080 |
| Hail | 183 | 0 | $1.0M | 25th of 159 | 301st of 3,080 |
| Floods | 143 | 0 | $15M | 2nd of 159 | 322nd of 3,080 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 76 | 4 | $12M | 42nd of 159 | 86th of 1,849 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 66 | 7 | $25K | 1st of 159 | 12th of 2,080 |
| High wind and dust storms | 62 | 0 | $166K | 22nd of 159 | 785th of 3,080 |
| Lightning | 48 | 2 | $6.3M | 11th of 159 | 32nd of 3,080 |
| Drought | 46 | 0 | – | 131st of 159 | 890th of 3,063 |
| Tornadoes | 32 | 0 | $20M | 11th of 159 | 151st of 3,080 |
| Heat | 25 | 0 | – | 56th of 159 | 736th of 3,076 |
| Winter storms | 11 | 0 | – | 125th of 159 | 2799th of 3,077 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 0 | – | 109th of 159 | 1652nd of 3,076 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 0 | – | 116th of 159 | 1399th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Chatham County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.