Baldwin County
Alabama — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Baldwin County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.7, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $237M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.24 / yr | $159M |
| Lightning | Very High | 84.29 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | High | 1.34 / yr | $9M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.29 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.96 / yr | $48M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.68 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.88 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 15.58 / yr | $664K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $916K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.29 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Low | 1.46 / yr | $414K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.69 / yr | $86K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.18 / yr | $77K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Baldwin County?
Baldwin County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Baldwin County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $159M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Tornado (High, $9M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Baldwin County compare to other Alabama counties?
Baldwin County ranks #3 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Baldwin County's $237M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.