What disaster hazards are common in Georgia?

Georgia can experience earthquakes, floods, landslides, mudflows, wildfires, avalanches, and severe weather. The most relevant hazards depend on terrain, season, and local buildings.

What should I do during an earthquake in Georgia?

Drop low, protect your head and neck, and hold onto stable cover until the shaking stops. Then leave damaged surroundings carefully and expect possible further shaking.

How should I respond to flood or landslide danger in Georgia?

Move away from rivers, channels, steep slopes, and moving debris toward safer ground. Do not cross floodwater or return until the area is considered safe.

Which emergency service handles disasters in Georgia?

Call 112 when a disaster creates an urgent need for police, fire, rescue, or medical assistance. Give a precise location and describe the immediate danger.

Disasters in Georgia

Georgia faces several natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, wildfires, avalanches, and severe weather. Risk depends strongly on season, terrain, buildings, and access routes. Simple preparation helps people act quickly when normal services are disrupted.

Tip

Prepare for the hazards around your actual location in Georgia, not for every possible disaster. Keep enough essentials to manage a short interruption, know two ways out, and agree on a family contact plan. During an emergency, protect life first and possessions second.

byMaia&Zurab

Disaster risk in Georgia is shaped by the Caucasus Mountains, river valleys, earthquake activity, forests, and changing weather. A hazard becomes a disaster when it seriously harms people, homes, roads, utilities, or communities. Earthquakes may occur without warning. The main immediate dangers are falling objects, damaged buildings, broken glass, fire, and unsafe movement during shaking. Heavy rain and rapid snowmelt can cause floods, flash floods, mudflows, and landslides. Valleys, steep slopes, riverbanks, and roads cut into mountains may be especially exposed. Snow, ice, avalanches, and storms can isolate mountain communities or close transport routes. A short journey may become impossible when visibility falls or a road is blocked. Hot and dry conditions can support forest or grass fires. Smoke, wind changes, and limited escape roads can make even a distant fire dangerous. The emergency number 112 coordinates urgent police, fire, and medical assistance. Municipal authorities, emergency services, building managers, and local residents may provide warnings or instructions during an event. Preparedness means knowing the hazards around a home or route, keeping basic supplies, and choosing safe meeting places. It also means planning for children, older people, disabilities, pets, medicine, and communication failures. Recovery can take time after the immediate danger passes. Damaged structures, contaminated water, unstable slopes, fallen power lines, and interrupted transport may remain hazardous.