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

Johnson County Disaster Risk

Johnson County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

9th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#133

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

11th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 11% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Johnson County, Georgia

Johnson County Ranks Among America's Safest

Johnson County scores just 9.26 on the composite risk scale—an exceptionally low Very Low rating that places it well below Georgia's state average of 39.49. With one of the nation's most favorable natural disaster profiles, residents enjoy substantial safety advantages compared to typical American counties.

Georgia's Second-Safest County

Johnson County's composite risk score ranks among Georgia's best, achieving less than 24% of the state average. Only a handful of Georgia counties match this level of natural disaster safety.

Ties for Regional Safety Leadership

Johnson County's score of 9.26 essentially ties with Jenkins County (10.75) as the region's safest counties, dramatically outperforming Jefferson County (25.83) and Jones County (16.38). This central Georgia cluster offers some of the state's most disaster-resilient communities.

Wildfire Primary Concern, Then Earthquake

Wildfire risk reaches 45.52 in Johnson County, followed by earthquake risk at 51.72—substantially higher than the county's minimal flood and tornado scores. Even these elevated individual scores remain low compared to national standards.

Basic Insurance Meets Most Needs

Johnson County residents should maintain standard homeowners insurance with adequate coverage limits and a clear guttering system to manage wildfire ember risk. Supplemental earthquake insurance is optional given the county's low seismic exposure, making this an excellent location for affordable, straightforward disaster preparedness.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Johnson County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    69th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    52th percentile
  3. #3
    WildfirePrepare
    46th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Johnson County

Risk Verdict

Johnson County's natural disaster risk is among the lowest in the country, with a composite score at the 9th percentile nationally. Being ranked at the 9th percentile nationally is an advantage for Johnson County — it means fewer statistically likely events, though basic readiness ensures households are covered when exceptions occur.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Johnson County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 69th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 52th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (46th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), flood (11th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane risk is Johnson County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 69th percentile nationally. The most time-sensitive preparedness step is knowing the county's evacuation zone for your address — zone maps are published by the county emergency management office. Earthquake, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 52th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Johnson County independent of hurricane season. Johnson County's county emergency management office publishes official evacuation zone maps with zone-specific shelter locations; downloading this map and identifying your zone assignment is the single highest-value pre-season step.

Regional Context

The Georgia county average exceeds Johnson County's score by 30.2 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.

Is your household prepared for Johnson 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 Johnson County, GA?
Johnson County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 9th 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 Johnson County?
Johnson County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (69th percentile), earthquake (52th percentile), wildfire (46th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), flooding (11th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 69th 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 Johnson County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Johnson County's composite risk percentile is 9th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Johnson County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is Johnson County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Johnson County's hurricane risk is at the 69th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Johnson County is at the 11th 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 Johnson County a safe place to live?
Johnson County's composite risk score of 9th 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 69th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Baker County

Georgia

+0.5

Very Low

10th percentile

Twiggs County

Georgia

-0.8

Very Low

8th percentile

Clay County

Georgia

-0.8

Very Low

8th 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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