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FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Bleckley County Disaster Risk

Bleckley County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

26th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#96

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

16th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Bleckley County, Georgia

Bleckley ranks among safest U.S. counties

Bleckley County's composite risk score of 25.67 places it well below the national average, with a Very Low rating. This rural south-central county experiences among the lowest natural disaster exposure in the United States.

Georgia's most protected county

Bleckley's 25.67 score ranks it as one of Georgia's lowest-risk counties, substantially below the state average of 39.49. The county's minimal overall exposure makes it statistically one of the safest places in Georgia for natural disasters.

Bleckley rivals Ben Hill as safest in region

Bleckley (25.67) essentially ties Ben Hill County (25.41) as the safest counties in south-central Georgia, both dramatically outperforming Bibb County (78.50) to the north. This positioning reflects Bleckley's rural character and distance from major flood and storm corridors.

Wildfire and earthquake risks exceed modest baselines

Bleckley's wildfire risk (48.98) and earthquake risk (50.00) are its highest individual scores, though both remain below state and national averages. Tornado and hurricane exposure remain minimal at 28.40 and 73.80 respectively.

Standard coverage likely sufficient

Bleckley residents can reasonably rely on basic homeowners insurance with standard wind and hail coverage—specialized flood or earthquake policies are not urgently necessary given the county's low exposure. Periodic policy reviews ensure your coverage remains adequate as property values change.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Bleckley County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    74th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    50th percentile
  3. #3
    WildfirePrepare
    49th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Bleckley County

Risk Verdict

Bleckley County's overall natural disaster score at the 26th percentile puts it well below the national median for hazard exposure. Residents of Bleckley County can use the 26th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Bleckley County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 74th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 50th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (49th percentile), tornado (28th percentile), flood (16th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane exposure at the 74th percentile nationally makes Bleckley County a county where pre-season preparedness — not storm-day preparation — determines outcomes. Bleckley County evacuation decisions under a watch or warning benefit from prior planning, not routes improvised under time pressure. Earthquake, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 50th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Bleckley County independent of hurricane season. Bleckley County residents benefit from registering with the county's special-needs evacuation registry if household members have mobility limitations, require electricity-dependent medical equipment, or cannot self-evacuate — registration in advance of storm season is required.

Regional Context

Bleckley County's composite risk score sits 13.8 points below the Georgia county average, reflecting a more favorable hazard environment than the state typical.

Is your household prepared for Bleckley County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Bleckley County, GA?
Bleckley County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 26th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Bleckley County?
Bleckley County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (74th percentile), earthquake (50th percentile), wildfire (49th percentile), tornado (28th percentile), flooding (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 74th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Bleckley County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Bleckley County's composite risk percentile is 26th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bleckley County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is Bleckley County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Bleckley County's hurricane risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Bleckley County is at the 16th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Bleckley County a safe place to live?
Bleckley County's composite risk score of 26th percentile is below the Georgia state average of 40th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jefferson County

Georgia

+0.2

Very Low

26th percentile

Ben Hill County

Georgia

-0.3

Very Low

25th percentile

McDuffie County

Georgia

-0.7

Very Low

25th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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