Greene County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Greene County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.3, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Greene County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 29.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 29th 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.
Most of Greene County's expected losses come from heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 10.21 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $270K in expected annual loss and about 69.39 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $168K in expected annual loss and about 0.08 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Greene 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 federal record bears this out: Greene County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 9 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Greene County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.21 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 69.39 / yr | $270K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $168K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $309K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.61 / yr | $813K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.64 / yr | $332K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.31 / yr | $335 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.43 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Very Low | 21.69 / yr | $8K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $12K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.89 / yr | $46K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $118K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.00 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Greene County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Greene County?
Greene County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Greene County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $270K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $168K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Greene County compare to other Alabama counties?
Greene County ranks #60 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Greene County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Greene County since 1973, most often 9 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. Greene County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.