Covington County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 82th
Covington County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.4, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Covington County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 82.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 82nd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 75.21 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.94 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 38K.
Beyond physical exposure, Covington 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.
History supports the rating: Covington County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 15 for hurricane events and 13 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Covington County ranks #18 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 75.21 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.18 / yr | $18M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.94 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.26 / yr | $610K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.61 / yr | $9M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.95 / yr | $861K |
| Drought | Low | 24.55 / yr | $143K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $233K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $972 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $32K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.11 / yr | $295K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.12 / yr | $26K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.74 / yr | $21K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $42K |
| 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
Covington County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Severe Storm (13), 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 |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Covington County?
Covington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Covington County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (High, $18M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Covington County compare to other Alabama counties?
Covington County ranks #18 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Covington County had?
FEMA records 33 federal disaster declarations for Covington County since 1975, most often 15 for hurricane events and 13 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. Covington County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.