Fayette County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 38th
Fayette County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.2, 38th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fayette County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 38.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 38th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $10K in expected annual loss and about 1.34 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $745K in expected annual loss and about 2.78 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $590K in expected annual loss and about 9.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Fayette County has a 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 federal record bears this out: Fayette County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 8 for severe storm events and 6 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Fayette County ranks #54 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 1.34 / yr | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.78 / yr | $745K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.16 / yr | $590K |
| Lightning | Medium | 68.30 / yr | $327K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $227K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $413K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $858K |
| Drought | Low | 25.86 / yr | $102K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.60 / yr | $45K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.43 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.01 / yr | $84K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.05 / 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
Fayette County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), Hurricane (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| August 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fayette County?
Fayette County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 38th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fayette County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $10K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $745K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $590K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fayette County compare to other Alabama counties?
Fayette County ranks #54 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fayette County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Fayette County since 1974, most often 8 for severe storm events and 6 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. Fayette County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.