Hale County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 39th
Hale County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 39.1, 39th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Hale County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 39.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 39th 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 Hale County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 70.46 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $341K in expected annual loss and about 0.08 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.58 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 15K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hale 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: Hale County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Hale County ranks #53 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 70.46 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $341K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $408K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.11 / yr | $357K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.47 / yr | $372K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $874 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.57 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Low | 23.08 / yr | $36K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.47 / yr | $300K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.76 / yr | $78K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.40 / yr | $19K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.95 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Hale County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| January 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hale County?
Hale County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 39th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hale County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $341K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hale County compare to other Alabama counties?
Hale County ranks #53 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hale County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Hale County since 1973, most often 10 for hurricane events and 6 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. Hale County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.