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

McIntosh County Disaster Risk

McIntosh County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

67th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#33

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

70th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in McIntosh County, Georgia

McIntosh faces above-average disaster risk

McIntosh County scores 66.57 on the composite risk scale, earning a Relatively Low rating but exceeding the national average. Your county experiences notably higher exposure to natural hazards than typical U.S. communities.

Higher risk than most Georgia counties

McIntosh's composite score of 66.57 significantly exceeds Georgia's state average of 39.49, placing it among the state's higher-risk communities. This coastal county faces distinctly different hazard exposure than inland areas.

Highest risk in this region

McIntosh County (66.57) outpaces Mitchell County (63.04) and significantly surpasses inland neighbors like Meriwether (19.21) and Morgan (19.37). As Georgia's easternmost rural county, McIntosh bears unique coastal and maritime hazard characteristics.

Hurricanes and wildfire dominate threats

Hurricane risk (94.70) and wildfire risk (87.15) are exceptionally high and represent your greatest concerns—nearly double the scores of most other Georgia counties. Flood risk at 70.20 rounds out your top three, reflecting coastal marsh and waterway exposure.

Prioritize hurricane and flood coverage now

Standard homeowners insurance excludes both flood and hurricanes—you must purchase separate flood insurance and verify wind/hurricane coverage limits immediately. Given your 94.70 hurricane risk score, securing comprehensive storm protection is non-negotiable for coastal property.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in McIntosh County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    95th percentile
  2. #2
    WildfirePrepare
    87th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    70th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: McIntosh County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in McIntosh County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 67th percentile. Proactive emergency planning and awareness of the specific hazards driving McIntosh County's score can meaningfully reduce household risk.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is McIntosh County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 95th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Wildfire ranks second at the 87th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (70th percentile), earthquake (49th percentile), tornado (18th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane exposure at the 95th percentile nationally makes McIntosh County a county where pre-season preparedness — not storm-day preparation — determines outcomes. McIntosh County evacuation decisions under a watch or warning benefit from prior planning, not routes improvised under time pressure. Wildfire, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 87th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for McIntosh County independent of hurricane season. McIntosh 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

McIntosh County is 27.1 composite risk points above the Georgia average, indicating that residents face greater natural hazard exposure than most of their in-state neighbors.

Is your household prepared for McIntosh 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 McIntosh County, GA?
McIntosh County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 67th 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 McIntosh County?
McIntosh County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (95th percentile), wildfire (87th percentile), flooding (70th percentile), earthquake (49th percentile), tornado (18th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 95th 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 McIntosh County risk compare to the Georgia average?
McIntosh County's composite risk percentile is 67th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means McIntosh County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is McIntosh County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, McIntosh County's hurricane risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, McIntosh County is at the 70th 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 McIntosh County higher risk than average?
McIntosh County's composite risk score of 67th percentile is above the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (95th percentile), along with wildfire and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Bryan County

Georgia

+0.1

Relatively Low

67th percentile

Clarke County

Georgia

+0.4

Relatively Low

67th percentile

Thomas County

Georgia

-0.6

Relatively Low

66th 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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