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

Bulloch County Disaster Risk

Bulloch County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

75th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#21

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

61th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Bulloch County, Georgia

Bulloch faces substantially elevated disaster risk

Bulloch County scores 75.41 on the composite risk scale, nearly 50% higher than the national average, and rated Relatively Low overall. This east-central county experiences significant multi-hazard exposure exceeding most U.S. communities.

Among Georgia's most vulnerable counties

Bulloch's 75.41 score substantially exceeds Georgia's state average of 39.49, ranking it in the upper tier of Georgia's most at-risk counties. Only a small percentage of Georgia communities face comparably complex natural disaster profiles.

Bulloch's risk rivals and exceeds peers

Bulloch (75.41) nearly matches Bibb County (78.50) to the west and substantially exceeds Bryan County (66.63) to the southeast. Bulloch's position as a regional hub concentrates both population and hazard exposure.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes all elevated

Bulloch's tornado risk (80.18), hurricane risk (92.45), and earthquake risk (86.90) all substantially exceed state and national averages. Wildfire risk (63.96) and flood risk (60.56) add additional significant concerns across the county.

Multi-layered insurance strategy is critical

Bulloch residents should secure flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program immediately, as standard policies exclude flood damage and the county faces elevated flood risk. Ensure wind, hail, and tornado damage coverage is comprehensive on your homeowners policy, and discuss earthquake insurance with your agent if you live near mapped fault zones.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Bulloch County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    87th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    80th percentile

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

Risk Advisory: Bulloch County

Risk Verdict

Bulloch County's FEMA risk score places it at the 75th percentile nationally, indicating lower-than-typical exposure for a U.S. county. At this risk level, having a documented household preparedness plan — not just awareness — is the meaningful next step for Bulloch County residents.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Bulloch County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 87th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (80th percentile), wildfire (64th percentile), flood (61th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane ranked at the 92th percentile nationally, Bulloch County sits in a zone where multi-day supply readiness matters: grid outages after landfalling storms can last one to three weeks in heavily affected areas. Earthquake at the 87th percentile nationally is Bulloch County's secondary hazard, often intensified by the same weather systems that produce hurricane conditions. Insurance gaps are the most common post-hurricane financial shock: standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood damage and may have a separate wind deductible. Bulloch County households benefit from a pre-season insurance review confirming both wind and flood coverage.

Regional Context

The Georgia county average is 35.9 composite points below Bulloch County's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.

Is your household prepared for Bulloch 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 Bulloch County, GA?
Bulloch County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 75th 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 Bulloch County?
Bulloch County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (92th percentile), earthquake (87th percentile), tornado (80th percentile), wildfire (64th percentile), flooding (61th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 92th 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 Bulloch County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Bulloch County's composite risk percentile is 75th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bulloch County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is Bulloch County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Bulloch County's hurricane risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Bulloch County is at the 61th 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.
Why is Bulloch County higher risk than average?
Bulloch County's composite risk score of 75th percentile is above the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (92th percentile), along with earthquake and tornado and wildfire and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.
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.