Calhoun County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Calhoun County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.5, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $54M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Calhoun County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 88.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Calhoun County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 0.53 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $27M in expected annual loss and about 1.04 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $23K in expected annual loss and about 0.81 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $54M in expected annual loss for a population of 116K.
Beyond physical exposure, Calhoun County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Calhoun County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 11 for severe storm events and 8 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Calhoun County ranks #9 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.53 / yr | $19M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.04 / yr | $27M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.81 / yr | $23K |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.27 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $340K |
| Lightning | Medium | 64.15 / yr | $528K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.63 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $617K |
| Hail | Low | 4.79 / yr | $438K |
| Drought | Low | 27.60 / yr | $221K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.30 / yr | $78K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.11 / yr | $21K |
| 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
Calhoun County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Hurricane (8), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| April 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Calhoun County?
Calhoun County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Calhoun County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $19M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $27M EAL), Landslide (Low, $23K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Calhoun County compare to other Alabama counties?
Calhoun County ranks #9 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Calhoun County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Calhoun County since 1977, most often 11 for severe storm events and 8 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. Calhoun County's $54M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.