Clay County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 27th
Clay County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.7, 27th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clay County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 26.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 27th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Clay County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $125K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $315K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.50 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clay 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 federal record bears this out: Clay County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 9 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Clay County ranks #63 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $125K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $315K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.40 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $184K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.63 / yr | $544K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.63 / yr | $154K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.68 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Very Low | 45.81 / yr | $18K |
| Lightning | Low | 65.55 / yr | $71K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.99 / yr | $63K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.02 / yr | $129K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $11K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Clay County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Severe Storm (8), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| 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 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Clay County?
Clay County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 27th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clay County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $125K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $315K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clay County compare to other Alabama counties?
Clay County ranks #63 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clay County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Clay County since 1977, most often 9 for hurricane events and 8 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. Clay County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.