Clarke County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Clarke County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.4, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Clarke County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 53.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 53rd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $8K in expected annual loss and about 1.22 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $349K in expected annual loss and about 75.84 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $13M in expected annual loss for a population of 23K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clarke County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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 federal record bears this out: Clarke County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 17 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Clarke County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.22 / yr | $8K |
| Lightning | Medium | 75.84 / yr | $349K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.82 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.65 / yr | $587K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $883K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $239K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $25K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.21 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.03 / yr | $218K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.48 / yr | $20K |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.55 / yr | $13K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.96 / yr | $69K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $583 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $13K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Clarke County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), Severe Storm (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| October 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Clarke County?
Clarke County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clarke County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Landslide (Low, $8K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $349K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clarke County compare to other Alabama counties?
Clarke County ranks #40 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clarke County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Clarke County since 1973, most often 17 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm 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. Clarke County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.