Hazard Plain Automated baseline

DeKalb County, GA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
13089
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA, GEMA/HS or any other state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2028-02-05. Plan: DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672), approved 2023-02-06.

Since the plan was approved on 2023-02-06: 2 new hazard declarations (2 incidents) and 93 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($96,629,454 a year), Tornado ($14,772,062) and Earthquake ($13,168,205).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2028-02-05
Plan:
DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)
Approved:
2023-02-06
Days to expiry:
493

What changed since your last plan (approved 2023-02-06)

New federal declarations:
2 new hazard declarations (2 incidents): EM-3616-GA (Hurricane Helene), EM-3642-GA (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
93 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 8, SRL 23 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 167
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 13 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
DeKalb County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493
Avondale Estates cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-03-20
Brookhaven cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-03-20
Chamblee cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-08-21
Clarkston cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-02-23
Decatur cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493
Doraville cityTownApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-08-08
Dunwoody cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-04-25
Lithonia cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-03-16
Pine Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-03-21
Stone Mountain cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-10-12
Stonecrest cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-10-12
Tucker cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05DeKalb County (FEMA plan 108672)2023-02-062028-02-05493this jurisdiction approved 2023-11-16

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification GEMA template A: Hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively HighRelatively High$95,143,371$546$1,485,538$96,629,45466
2TornadoRelatively HighRelatively High$9,071,190$22$5,700,851$14,772,0628
3EarthquakeRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$8,841,830n/a$4,326,375$13,168,205Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
4Cold WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$83,853$529$9,002,678$9,087,06114Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
5HailRelatively HighRelatively High$4,993,416$114$1,231,468$6,224,998107
6Heat WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$217$2$3,880,067$3,880,28611
7LightningVery HighVery High$533,584n/a$3,167,249$3,700,83417
8Strong WindRelatively HighRelatively High$503,957$2$2,654,828$3,158,787235Includes 4 High Wind and 16 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
9Ice StormVery HighVery High$1,719,593n/a$14,821$1,734,4146
10HurricaneRelatively LowRelatively Low$714,952$484$41,056$756,49218
11Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$78,105$1$31,301$109,40831
12WildfireVery LowVery Low$28,352under $1$4,113$32,4650No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13LandslideRelatively LowRelatively Low$12,290n/a$362$12,6530No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$037

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 224.04 (Relatively Moderate, 84.6); tract 212.04 (Relatively Moderate, 83.1); tract 213.01 (Relatively Moderate, 82.5)
Hurricanetract 224.04 (Relatively Low, 58.4); tract 219.13 (Relatively Low, 52.8); tract 213.06 (Relatively Low, 52.7)
Landslidetract 219.15 (Relatively Low, 93.2); tract 219.12 (Relatively Low, 92.5); tract 233.15 (Relatively Low, 92.0)
Tornadotract 224.04 (Relatively High, 90.2); tract 213.06 (Relatively High, 77.5); tract 212.04 (Relatively Moderate, 71.1)
Wildfiretract 231.02 (Relatively Low, 75.2); tract 217.11 (Relatively Low, 70.7); tract 233.18 (Very Low, 68.0)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 224.04 is Census Tract 224.04). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill13 records, 1996 to 2003 (13 zone-level)1 day to 31 days (median 4 days); 10 with a recorded valueDecember 2000 (1 monthly summary record), zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2007 (1 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)37 records, 1997 to 2026 (37 zone-level)22 days to 181 days (median 31 days); 18 with a recorded value181 days (6 months), 2016-11-01 to 2017-04-30, a run of 6 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelDrought, 2000-06-01, property not reported; $328,980 crops (zone total, 2000 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)127 records, 1969 to 20210.75 in to 2.5 in (median 0.88 in); 127 with a recorded value2.5 in hail, 2007-06-12Hail, 2005-02-21, $4,600,000 property; crops not reported (2005 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Tucker city (18 records), Stone Mountain city (16 records), Lithonia city (15 records), Decatur city (12 records), Chamblee city (8 records), Dunwoody city (7 records), Avondale Estates city (6 records), Doraville city (5 records), Brookhaven city (4 records), Clarkston city (4 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)11 records, 1999 to 2012 (11 zone-level)3 days to 33 days (median 10 days); 5 with a recorded value1999-07-20 to 1999-08-21 (2 records, 1 of them a monthly summary record), zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat records from November to March (unseasonable warmth, not a heat wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson18 records, 2002 to 2024 (18 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Tropical Storm record, 2017-09-11, $12,000,000 property; crops not reported (2017 dollars); NWS zone GAZ045Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)6 records, 2000 to 2026 (6 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2000-01-22, $980,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars); NWS zone GAZ045Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)66 records, 1997 to 2023 (2 zone-level)Flood, 2009-09-21, $6,100,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Decatur city (7 records), Doraville city (5 records), Dunwoody city (4 records), Tucker city (4 records), Chamblee city (1 record), Stone Mountain city (1 record). Zone-level records (2) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)17 records, 1999 to 2021Lightning, 2004-05-17, damage not reported, 1 direct death, 1 direct injuryLightning, 2009-08-30, $300,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Decatur city (3 records), Chamblee city (2 records), Doraville city (2 records), Lithonia city (2 records), Tucker city (2 records), Brookhaven city (1 record), Clarkston city (1 record), Dunwoody city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)20 records, 1998 to 2022 (20 zone-level)25 kt (29 mph) to 50 kt (58 mph) (median 35 kt (40 mph)); 16 with a recorded value50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2016-03-24; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 2004-09-16; NWS zone GAZ045High Wind, 2004-09-16, $350,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2004 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)292 records, 1963 to 202630 kt (35 mph) to 74 kt (85 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 199 with a recorded value74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2015-01-04Thunderstorm Wind, 2006-08-04, $225,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Stone Mountain city (19 records), Lithonia city (14 records), Dunwoody city (11 records), Decatur city (9 records), Tucker city (8 records), Chamblee city (5 records), Doraville city (5 records), Brookhaven city (3 records), Clarkston city (2 records), Pine Lake city (2 records); and 1 more jurisdiction (see the Excel file).Speeds under 20 kt (likely entry errors) are left out of the observed range.
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)16 records, 1950 to 2026F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF1); 16 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1972-01-10, 3.3 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 200 yd wide, $250,000 property; crops not recorded (1972 dollars)Tornado, 1998-04-08, $25,000,000 property; crops not reported (1998 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Dunwoody city (2 records), Avondale Estates city (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)31 records, 1996 to 2026 (31 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2005-01-28, $500,000 property; crops not reported (2005 dollars); NWS zone GAZ045Countywide (zone-level records).

Where a hazard names more than 10 jurisdictions, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every one is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

A monthly summary record covers most or all of a month; it does not count days at wave conditions.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Federal declarations for this county: 17 declarations covering 13 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-01-242026-01-22EM-3642-GAEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-09-262024-09-24EM-3616-GAEmergencyHurricane HeleneHurricaneno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-292020-01-20DR-4501-GAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$550,070,282.66
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3464-GAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4501
2017-09-152017-09-07DR-4338-GAMajor disasterHurricane IrmaHurricane$3,464,312.65
2017-09-082017-09-07EM-3387-GAEmergencyHurricane IrmaHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4338
2014-02-112014-02-10EM-3368-GAEmergencySevere Winter StormIce Stormno Public Assistance recorded
2009-09-242009-09-18DR-1858-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$3,214,809.30
2008-03-202008-03-14DR-1750-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms and TornadoesTornadoPA not declared for this county
2005-09-052005-08-27EM-3218-GAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not counted$1,687,933.15
2004-09-182004-09-14DR-1554-GAMajor disasterHurricane IvanHurricane$832,536.90
2000-01-282000-01-22DR-1311-GAMajor disasterSevere Winter StormWinter Weather$9,259,590.98
1998-03-111998-02-14DR-1209-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1995-10-101995-10-04DR-1071-GAMajor disasterHurricane OpalHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-151993-03-13EM-3097-GAEmergencySevere Snowfall, Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1977-07-201977-07-20EM-3044-GAEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1973-04-041973-04-04DR-370-GAMajor disasterTornadoes & FloodingTornado (primary); also designated: Inland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-11-041964-11-04DR-180-GAMajor disasterFloodingInland Flooding
1964-09-101964-09-10DR-177-GAMajor disasterHurricane DoraHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding
1963-03-261963-03-26DR-150-GAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1961-03-021961-03-02DR-110-GAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1954-03-171954-03-17DR-16-GAMajor disasterTornadoTornado
1953-05-021953-05-02DR-1-GAMajor disasterTornadoTornado

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 10 rows, $24,467,487.66

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4830-GA2024-09-30Hurricane HeleneGeorgia Transmission Corporation$19,942,301.24
DR-4400-GA2018-10-14Hurricane MichaelGeorgia Transmission Corporation$1,498,067.75
DR-4297-GA2017-01-26Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingGeorgia Transmission Corporation$1,318,047.63
DR-4284-GA2016-10-08Hurricane MatthewUnited Cerebral Palsy of Georgia, INC.$16,854.78
DR-1973-GA2011-04-29Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingGeorgia Transmission Corporation$7,631.09
DR-1761-GA2008-05-23Severe Storms and TornadoesGeorgia Transmission Corporation$1,400,120.68
DR-1560-GA2004-09-24Tropical Storm FrancesGeorgia Transmission Corporation$180,918.37
DR-1315-GA2000-02-15Severe Storms/TornadosGeorgia Transmission Corporation$55,736.25
EM-3144-GA1999-09-14Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsGeorgia Transmission Corporation$23,260.03
DR-1271-GA1999-04-20Severe Storms and TornadoesGeorgia Transmission Corporation$24,549.84

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave14000001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought37303101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail127000001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave11000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane18202411996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm6101101996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding66326301996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning17000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind312801495001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 4 High Wind and 16 Strong Wind records.
Tornado16213201950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather31203311996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2022-01-03Strong Wind40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust$25,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2022 dollars)1, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsdeaths or injuries recorded
2017-09-11Tropical Storm$12,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2017 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
2016-03-24High Wind50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust$4,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2016 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2016-01-23Strong Wind35 kt (40 mph) estimated gust$25,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2016 dollars)1, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2015-01-04Thunderstorm Wind74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust$50,000 property; crops not reported (2015 dollars)0, 0(PDK)DEKALB PEACHTREB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2009-09-21Flood$6,100,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)0, 0DUNWOODY to CONSTITUTIONB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2007-06-12Hail2.5 in$4,500,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars)0, 0STONE MTN to LITHONIAB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2004-05-17Lightningdamage not reported1, 1DUNWOODYdeaths or injuries recorded
2000-12-01Extreme Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2000-01-22Ice Storm$980,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2000 dollars)0, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
1999-07-20Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone GAZ045 (DE KALB), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
1972-01-10TornadoF3, 3.3 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 200 yd wide$250,000 property; crops not recorded (1972 dollars)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (655 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events GEMA template B: Hazard profile (events and probability)

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave0.843event-days per yearabout 0.843 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)162005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought29event-days per yearabout 29 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 12 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (40%)1,3232000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00205annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.205%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail5.39events per yearabout 5.39 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)204.6 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave2.27event-days per yearabout 2.27 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 5 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (16.7%)412005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.0462events per yearabout 1 in 22 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)121851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm1.39event-days per yearabout 1.39 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)941946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.93event-days per yearabout 1.93 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 19 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (63.3%)541996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.459events per year (modeled)about 1 in 2 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning61.1days per year with a strikeabout 61.1 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind2.61events per yearabout 2.61 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1001986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.17events per yearabout 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0000161annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00161%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather2.63event-days per yearabout 2.63 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 19 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (63.3%)502005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202547301.57
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025132304.4
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202570302.33
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20256300.2
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions GEMA template F: Multi-jurisdictional differences

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave203 of 20315.645.171.1Relatively Moderate 84, Relatively Low 118, Very Low 1
Drought0 of 203No Rating 203
Earthquake203 of 2032.662.984.6Relatively Moderate 12, Relatively Low 166, Very Low 25
Hail203 of 2032.175.195.9Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 147, Relatively Low 53, Very Low 1
Heat Wave203 of 2031.325.758.8Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 176, Very Low 25
Hurricane203 of 20312.944.258.4Relatively Low 6, Very Low 197
Ice Storm203 of 2030.863.294.7Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 58, Relatively Low 141, Very Low 3
Inland Flooding203 of 2030.236.291.8Relatively High 7, Relatively Moderate 51, Relatively Low 115, Very Low 30
Landslide203 of 20312.167.993.2Relatively Low 29, Very Low 174
Lightning203 of 2030.262.391.3Relatively High 25, Relatively Moderate 151, Relatively Low 26, Very Low 1
Strong Wind203 of 2030.345.875.9Relatively Moderate 50, Relatively Low 152, Very Low 1
Tornado203 of 2031.452.290.2Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 87, Relatively Low 113, Very Low 1
Wildfire199 of 20320.740.875.2Relatively Low 2, Very Low 197, No Rating 4
Winter Weather203 of 20310.724.653.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 200, Very Low 2

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
DeKalb County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 7, SRL 15; any 112$12,685,881.710 total; 0 since its planIncludes $1,672,205.93 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (EM-3218-GA).
Avondale Estates cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$103,698.398 total; 0 since its plan
Brookhaven cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 1, SRL 3; any 15$88,154.218 total; 0 since its plan
Chamblee cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 3$42,720.6716 total; 0 since its plan
Clarkston cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$24,467.067 total; 0 since its plan
Decatur cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 4; any 10$173,326.4431 total; 0 since its planIncludes $44,152.96 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4501-GA).
Doraville cityTownApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$70,810.1217 total; 2 since its plan
Dunwoody cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 6$252,611.3725 total; 3 since its plan
Lithonia cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$3,537.7531 total; 1 since its plan
Pine Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$30,688.512 total; 0 since its plan
Stone Mountain cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 4$373,707.0936 total; 2 since its plan
Stonecrest cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Tucker cityCityApproved, expires 2028-02-05FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 5no Public Assistance recorded32 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts GEMA template C/D: Community exposure; Estimate of potential losses

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2023-02-06county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$141,930,942,278$703,858763,613$83,853$529$9,002,678under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/a$0agriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$241,242,498,746n/a764,382$8,841,830n/a$4,326,3750.00367%
Hail$141,931,021,677$703,858763,614$4,993,416$114$1,231,4680.00352%
Heat Wave$141,930,942,278$703,858763,613$217$2$3,880,067under 0.0001%
Hurricane$141,751,814,790$703,858762,051$714,952$484$41,0560.000504%$112,000no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)
Ice Storm$141,856,836,818n/a763,276$1,719,593n/a$14,8210.00121%
Inland Flooding$141,738,391,597$49,64315,093$95,143,371$546$1,485,538n/a (see note)$0NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$5,302,099,090n/a28,680$12,290n/a$3620.000232%
Lightning$141,931,021,677n/a763,614$533,584n/a$3,167,2490.000376%
Strong Wind$141,931,021,677$703,858763,614$503,957$2$2,654,8280.000355%$98,000
Tornado$141,931,021,677$703,858763,614$9,071,190$22$5,700,8510.00639%$200,000
Wildfire$22,175,949,759$180,740139,190$28,352under $1$4,1130.000128%
Winter Weather$141,930,942,278$703,858763,613$78,105$1$31,301under 0.0001%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2023-02-06 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 85 county-coded records, 70 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $298,000; 8 zone-level records, 6 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $112,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 2 counted declarations.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context) GEMA template I: Social vulnerability

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population763,614
Building value (total, not at risk)$141,931,021,677
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$703,858
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$121,726,410
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$31,540,708
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively Low
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)8Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)23
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition156Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition13

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total82315613167774
of which: Dekalb County (unincorporated area)7151037112645
of which: Chamblee city0131303
of which: Doraville city0010100
of which: Pine Lake city0010100
of which: Stone Mountain city0040401
of which: Dunwoody city0060604
of which: Tucker city0050503
of which: Atlanta city (plan jurisdiction listed on the Fulton County page)0080802
of which: Decatur city04821015
of which: Brookhaven city1315315011
of which: Unknown (community ID Unknown in FEMA data)0020200
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file2252616

8 of the county's repeat-flood properties belong to NFIP communities whose plan jurisdiction is not listed on this page (the community rows above name the page that lists it).

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
DeKalb County (unincorporated area)1300657151037112645
Avondale Estates city1305280000000
Brookhaven city1351751315315011
Chamblee city1300660131303
Clarkston city1300670000000
Decatur city13515904821015
Doraville city1300690010100
Dunwoody city1306790060604
Lithonia city1304720000000
Pine Lake city1300700010100
Stone Mountain city1302600040401
Stonecrest city1302680000000
Tucker city1306810050503

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential72214112151668
2 to 4 unit residential1040512
other residential0070703
non-residential0141401
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 3 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 151 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

GEMA local plan template

Section headings show the GEMA local hazard mitigation plan template letter (A to I) next to the FEMA checklist item (template: https://gema.georgia.gov/document/publication/local-hazard-mitigation-plan-update-template/download). No letter is documented for repetitive loss; place B2-c where your GEMA template puts it.

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). DeKalb County, GA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 13089). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ga/13089/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]