Georgia natural disasters & FEMA declarations
GA · 26th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Georgia has had 81 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 26th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (17 declarations, about 21% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Highway 82 Fire" (Fire), on Apr 22, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Georgia, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 17 | 21% |
| Hurricane | 16 | 20% |
| Fire | 14 | 17% |
| Tornado | 13 | 16% |
| Flood | 9 | 11% |
| Tropical Storm | 3 | 4% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 3 | 4% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
| Freezing | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 51 |
| Emergency (EM) | 16 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 14 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Georgia's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 13 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2026 | Highway 82 Fire | Fire | FM-5630-GA |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Pineland Road Fire | Fire | FM-5629-GA |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3642-GA |
| Sep 30, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | DR-4830-GA |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | EM-3616-GA |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | DR-4821-GA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Georgia
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Georgia in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Georgia had?
Georgia has had 81 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 26th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Georgia?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Georgia is "Severe Storm", with 17 declarations — about 21% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Georgia?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Georgia in this snapshot was "Highway 82 Fire" (Fire), declared Apr 22, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18