Upson County Disaster Risk
Upson County, Georgia
FEMA Risk Rating
Very Low
National Percentile
17th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#117
of 159 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
32th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Very Low
Higher than 32% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Very Low
Higher than 42% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 39% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 51% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 64% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Upson County, Georgia
Upson County: Well Below National Risk
Upson County scores 17.14 on the composite risk scale—placing it in the Very Low category and significantly below the national average. This means residents face substantially lower exposure to major natural disasters compared to most American counties.
Georgia's Safer County
Among Georgia's 159 counties, Upson ranks among the safest for composite disaster risk at 17.14 versus the state average of 39.49. This protective standing reflects lower frequencies of flooding, tornadoes, and other major hazards across the region.
Safer Than Nearby Counties
Upson County's 17.14 score puts it well ahead of neighboring Lamar County and comparable to nearby Marion County. The county benefits from its inland location, which shields it from hurricane and coastal storm impacts that affect southern Georgia neighbors.
Top Hazards: Earthquakes & Hurricanes
Upson County's highest risk scores are earthquake exposure (50.67) and hurricane potential (64.16), though both remain moderate in absolute terms. Flooding and wildfire pose lower threats, with scores of 31.71 and 41.57 respectively, making them less frequent concerns for residents.
Insurance Priorities for Upson
Standard homeowners insurance typically covers wind damage from hurricanes, but earthquake coverage requires a separate policy riders—consider adding it given the county's moderate seismic exposure. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program for properties in identified flood zones.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Upson County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Upson County
Risk Verdict
Upson County's natural disaster risk is among the lowest in the country, with a composite score at the 17th percentile nationally. Even at the 17th percentile, Upson County's composite score reflects real hazard exposure categories — knowing which ones apply locally enables targeted, efficient household preparedness.
Hazard Breakdown
Hurricane risk is Upson County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 64th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 51th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include wildfire (42th percentile), tornado (39th percentile), flood (32th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Hurricane risk is Upson County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 64th 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 51th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Upson County independent of hurricane season. Upson 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 Upson County's score by 22.3 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.
Is your household prepared for Upson County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Upson County, GA?
What types of natural hazards affect Upson County?
How does Upson County risk compare to the Georgia average?
Is Upson County at risk for hurricane?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Is Upson County a safe place to live?
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.