Dale County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 68th
Dale County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 67.7, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dale County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 67.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 68th 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.
Most of Dale County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.16 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.50 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $506K in expected annual loss and about 71.19 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $19M in expected annual loss for a population of 49K.
Beyond physical exposure, Dale County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Dale County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 15 for severe storm events and 11 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Dale County ranks #32 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | Medium | 71.19 / yr | $506K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.89 / yr | $550K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.33 / yr | $3K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.37 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 35.88 / yr | $236K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.61 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $181K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.69 / yr | $307K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.40 / yr | $76K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.47 / yr | $19K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $7K |
| 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
Dale County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Hurricane (11), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| November 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 33 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Dale County?
Dale County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 67.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dale County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $4M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $506K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dale County compare to other Alabama counties?
Dale County ranks #32 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Dale County had?
FEMA records 33 federal disaster declarations for Dale County since 1975, most often 15 for severe storm events and 11 for hurricane 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. Dale County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.