Escambia County

Alabama — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

85.0

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

Expected Annual Loss $36M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 37K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
High $21M/yr
Lightning
High $1M/yr
Heat Wave
Medium $1M/yr

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

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.

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.