Natural Disasters in Salem, GA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

17.1

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

17.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

48.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

39.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane64.2Lightning52.6Drought51.6
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane64.2
Lightning52.6
Drought51.6
Heat Wave50.8
Earthquake50.7
Hail45.2
Wildfire41.6
Tornado39.0
Strong Wind33.3
Landslide32.3
Ice Storm22.8
Cold Wave8.0
Winter Weather5.8

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

22

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

7 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
Mar 29, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Oct 10, 2018HurricaneHURRICANE MICHAEL
Sep 15, 2017HurricaneHURRICANE IRMA
Sep 8, 2017HurricaneHURRICANE IRMA
Jan 26, 2017TornadoSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Feb 26, 2016Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 6, 2014Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Feb 11, 2014Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 29, 2011Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING
Apr 23, 2009Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 24, 2004HurricaneTROPICAL STORM FRANCES
Sep 18, 2004HurricaneHURRICANE IVAN
Jan 28, 2000Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 10, 1995HurricaneHURRICANE OPAL
Jul 7, 1994TornadoTORNADOES, FLOODING TORRENTIAL RAIN(TROP STORM ALBERTO)
Mar 15, 1993SnowstormSEVERE SNOWFALL, WINTER STORM

Showing 20 of 22 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

11

Total IA Distributed

$33,894

Repair/Replace

$3,833

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-45014$30,061—
DR-19731$3,056$3,056
DR-16866$777$155

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

26

Total Claims Paid

$343,306

Avg Claim Payout

$13,204

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,219,067

Disasters with PA

10

Total Projects

61

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4259Severe Storm(s)5$257,806
DR-4338Other8$225,217
DR-4165Severe Ice Storm8$155,046
DR-1560Hurricane10$139,825
DR-4501Biological1$113,247
DR-1554Hurricane13$94,617
DR-1833Severe Storm(s)7$86,799
DR-4297Other4$81,911
DR-1311Severe Storm(s)4$45,406
DR-1973Severe Storm(s)1$19,193

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

18

Federal Funding

$482,300

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.59

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)8$146,345
403.4: Stormwater Management - Detention/Retention Basins5$261,681
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE2$51,302
601.2: Generators - Regular2$0
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$22,972

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

Salem has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, lightning, drought. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (7 declarations). 26 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,219,067 in public assistance recovery funding. $33,894 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.