Blount County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 68th
Blount County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 68.5, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $21M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Blount County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 68.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 68th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Blount County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.72 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $14K in expected annual loss and about 1.07 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $557K in expected annual loss and about 63.77 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $21M in expected annual loss for a population of 59K.
Beyond physical exposure, Blount County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Blount County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 13 for severe storm events and 6 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Blount County ranks #31 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.72 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.07 / yr | $14K |
| Lightning | Medium | 63.77 / yr | $557K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.36 / yr | $966K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $742K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.89 / yr | $688K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.29 / yr | $10M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $93K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $222K |
| Drought | Low | 28.33 / yr | $162K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.52 / yr | $54K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.76 / yr | $100K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.58 / yr | $14K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Blount County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Hurricane (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Thunderstorms |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| January 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Blount County?
Blount County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 68.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Blount County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $7M EAL), Landslide (Low, $14K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $557K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Blount County compare to other Alabama counties?
Blount County ranks #31 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Blount County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Blount County since 1974, most often 13 for severe storm events and 6 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene, declared in September 2024.
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. Blount County's $21M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.