Coosa County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 15th
Coosa County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 14.6, 15th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Coosa County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 14.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 15th 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.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $97K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 1.34 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very Low risk — $103K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Coosa 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.
History supports the rating: Coosa County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 10 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Coosa County ranks #67 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $97K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.34 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $103K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.89 / yr | $185K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $109K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.61 / yr | $632K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.39 / yr | $176K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 68.21 / yr | $64K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $208K |
| Drought | Very Low | 42.57 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.40 / yr | $19K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $3K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.74 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Coosa County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 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 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
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 Coosa County?
Coosa County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 14.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 15th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Coosa County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $97K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $103K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Coosa County compare to other Alabama counties?
Coosa County ranks #67 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Coosa County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Coosa County since 1977, most often 10 for hurricane events and 7 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. Coosa County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.