Coffee County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Coffee County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 83.4, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $43M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Coffee County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 83.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 83rd 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 Coffee County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.61 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $816K in expected annual loss and about 72.83 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $43M in expected annual loss for a population of 53K.
Beyond physical exposure, Coffee County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Coffee County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 13 for hurricane events and 11 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Coffee County ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $11M |
| Tornado | High | 0.61 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | High | 72.83 / yr | $816K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.64 / yr | $21M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.36 / yr | $6K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.81 / yr | $831K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.00 / yr | $616K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.37 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $359K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.17 / yr | $99K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $58K |
| Drought | Low | 28.72 / yr | $177K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.47 / yr | $28K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.43 / yr | $98K |
| 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
Coffee County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Severe Storm (11), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| October 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| January 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Coffee County?
Coffee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 83.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Coffee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $11M EAL), Tornado (High, $6M EAL), Lightning (High, $816K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Coffee County compare to other Alabama counties?
Coffee County ranks #16 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Coffee County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Coffee County since 1975, most often 13 for hurricane events and 11 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. Coffee County's $43M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.