Natural Disasters in Nelson, GA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

34.8

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

39.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

36.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

39.2

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide74.4Lightning69.6Tornado62.4

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	74.4
Lightning	69.6
Tornado	62.4
Cold Wave	61.1
Wildfire	59.8
Earthquake	59.0
Strong Wind	48.0
Hail	45.5
Hurricane	41.3
Ice Storm	39.7
Drought	37.7
Winter Weather	18.6
Heat Wave	16.8

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 26, 2024	Tropical Storm	HURRICANE HELENE
Jan 12, 2021	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM ZETA
Mar 29, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Sep 15, 2017	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRMA
Sep 8, 2017	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRMA
Feb 11, 2014	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 29, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING
Sep 24, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 18, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
Jan 28, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Mar 11, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Oct 10, 1995	Hurricane	HURRICANE OPAL
Mar 31, 1994	Tornado	TORNADOES, FLOODING, AND SEVERE STORMS
Mar 15, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL, WINTER STORM
Dec 1, 1992	Tornado	HIGH WINDS, HEAVY RAINS & TORNADOES
Jul 20, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

222

Total IA Distributed

$948,445

Repair/Replace

$98,324

Rental Assistance

$5,092

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4501	153	$841,826	—
DR-1554	42	$74,963	$3,497
DR-1973	14	$30,200	$5,086
DR-1858	13	$1,456	$192

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$5,597,697

Avg Claim Payout

$76,681

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$3,017,085

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

106

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1858	Severe Storm(s)	52	$1,561,021
DR-1554	Hurricane	33	$826,852
DR-1311	Severe Storm(s)	10	$277,290
DR-4579	Tropical Storm	3	$226,218
DR-4338	Other	3	$80,597
DR-4501	Biological	3	$36,459
DR-1973	Severe Storm(s)	1	$5,976
DR-3218	Hurricane	1	$2,672

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,259,915

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.25

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	5	$206,831
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	4	$998,438
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE	2	$54,646

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Nelson has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, lightning, tornado. The area has had 19 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (6 declarations). 73 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $3,017,085 in public assistance recovery funding. $948,445 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 11 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.