Escambia County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
Escambia County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.0, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $36M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Escambia County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 85.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 85th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $21M in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 79.59 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 8.04 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $36M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Escambia County has a very 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Escambia County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 14 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Escambia County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.19 / yr | $21M |
| Lightning | High | 79.59 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.04 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.17 / yr | $715K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $154K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.11 / yr | $8M |
| Drought | Low | 18.67 / yr | $239K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $255K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.90 / yr | $507K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.31 / yr | $552 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.79 / yr | $19K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.55 / yr | $67K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Escambia County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 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 |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
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 Escambia County?
Escambia County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Escambia County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $21M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Escambia County compare to other Alabama counties?
Escambia County ranks #14 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Escambia County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Escambia County since 1973, most often 14 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. Escambia County's $36M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.