Dallas County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 71th
Dallas County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.8, 71th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning 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
Dallas County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 70.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 71st 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 Dallas County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $653K in expected annual loss and about 69.77 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.76 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 10.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $19M in expected annual loss for a population of 38K.
Beyond physical exposure, Dallas 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Dallas County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 11 for hurricane events and 10 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Dallas County ranks #27 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 69.77 / yr | $653K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.76 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.00 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $829K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $10M |
| Drought | Medium | 25.07 / yr | $360K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.41 / yr | $592K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.38 / yr | $2K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.32 / yr | $44K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.37 / yr | $474K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Hail | Low | 2.11 / yr | $116K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Dallas County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Severe Storm (10), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| October 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Dallas County?
Dallas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 71th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dallas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $653K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dallas County compare to other Alabama counties?
Dallas County ranks #27 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Dallas County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Dallas County since 1975, most often 11 for hurricane events and 10 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. Dallas County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.