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

Putnam County Disaster Risk

Putnam County, Georgia

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

53th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#51

of 159 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

68th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Putnam County, Georgia

Putnam County's Moderate Risk

Putnam County's composite score of 53.31 earns a Relatively Low rating nationally but sits above the U.S. average, indicating above-average exposure to combined natural hazards. The county faces meaningful but manageable disaster risk compared to high-risk regions.

Above Average for Georgia

Putnam County's 53.31 score exceeds Georgia's 39.49 state average by 35%, placing it among the higher-risk counties in the state. The elevation reflects the county's geography in central Georgia and susceptibility to multiple hazard types.

Putnam's Elevated Risk Profile

Putnam County (53.31) faces notably higher risk than Pierce (22.68), Pike (8.05), and Pulaski (18.16), ranking similarly to Polk County (64.06). Its position in central Georgia contributes to broad exposure across flood, wildfire, and severe weather hazards.

Flooding and Wildfire Lead Threats

Putnam County confronts substantial flood risk (67.91) and wildfire exposure (63.10), with hurricane risk (71.67) and earthquake risk (59.26) also elevated. Tornado risk (49.40) rounds out a multi-hazard profile that requires comprehensive preparedness.

Comprehensive Coverage Strategy

Putnam County homeowners should prioritize flood insurance and hurricane coverage, as these represent the county's top two hazard threats with scores exceeding 67. Review your standard homeowners policy for exclusions and consider bundling flood, wind, and wildfire coverage.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Putnam County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    72th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    68th percentile
  3. #3
    WildfirePrepare
    63th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Putnam County

Risk Verdict

Putnam County has a below-average natural disaster risk profile, scoring at the 53th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Households in Putnam County benefit from knowing which individual hazard types — flood, wildfire, tornado, or hurricane — are the primary contributors.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Putnam County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 72th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 68th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (63th percentile), earthquake (59th percentile), tornado (49th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane risk is Putnam County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 72th 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. Putnam County's flood exposure at the 68th percentile nationally adds a hazard layer that can persist or intensify after hurricane-force winds have passed, particularly in low-lying inland areas. Putnam 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

Putnam County's composite risk score sits 13.8 points above the Georgia county average, placing it among the more hazard-exposed counties in the state.

Is your household prepared for Putnam 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 Putnam County, GA?
Putnam County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 53th 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 Putnam County?
Putnam County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (72th percentile), flooding (68th percentile), wildfire (63th percentile), earthquake (59th percentile), tornado (49th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 72th 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 Putnam County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Putnam County's composite risk percentile is 53th, compared to the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Putnam County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Georgia.
Is Putnam County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Putnam County's hurricane risk is at the 72th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Putnam County is at the 68th 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 Putnam County higher risk than average?
Putnam County's composite risk score of 53th percentile is above the Georgia state average of 40th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (72th percentile), along with flooding and wildfire and earthquake 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

Sumter County

Georgia

-0.1

Relatively Low

53th percentile

Grady County

Georgia

-0.3

Relatively Low

53th percentile

Union County

Georgia

-0.8

Relatively Low

52th 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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