Cherokee County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 63th
Cherokee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 63.3, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Cherokee County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 63.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 63rd 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.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 32.27 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.48 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $696K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 25K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cherokee County has a very 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: Cherokee County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 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, Cherokee County ranks #35 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 32.27 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.48 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $696K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.93 / yr | $9M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.50 / yr | $4K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $107K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $198K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $756K |
| Lightning | Low | 62.43 / yr | $142K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.63 / yr | $329K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.53 / yr | $198K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.43 / yr | $27K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.91 / yr | $96K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.74 / yr | $15K |
| 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
Cherokee County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 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 |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 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 |
| 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 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cherokee County?
Cherokee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 63.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cherokee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $696K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cherokee County compare to other Alabama counties?
Cherokee County ranks #35 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cherokee County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Cherokee County since 1974, 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. Cherokee County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.