riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Burke County Disaster Risk

Burke County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

37th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#78

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

31th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 81% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Burke County

Risk Verdict

Burke County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 37th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Burke County, scoring in the 81th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 76th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (60th), tornado (59th), flood (31th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Burke County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Burke County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Georgia. Its composite risk score is within 2.2 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Georgia as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Burke County, GA?
Burke County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 37th 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 Burke County?
Burke County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (81th percentile), earthquake (76th percentile), wildfire (60th percentile), tornado (59th percentile), flooding (31th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 81th 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 Burke County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Burke County's composite risk percentile is 37th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Burke County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is Burke County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Burke County's hurricane risk is at the 81th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Burke County is at the 31th 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 Burke County a safe place to live?
Burke County's composite risk score of 37th 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 81th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Greene County

Georgia

-0.1

Very Low

37th percentile

Worth County

Georgia

-0.8

Very Low

36th percentile

Habersham County

Georgia

+1.6

Very Low

39th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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