Henry County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Henry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.0, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Henry County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 42.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 42nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $646K in expected annual loss and about 44.19 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 0.49 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Henry County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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.
History supports the rating: Henry County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 13 for severe storm events and 11 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Henry County ranks #51 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 44.19 / yr | $646K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.49 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 72.05 / yr | $196K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.37 / yr | $591K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $698 |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.84 / yr | $178K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $95K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.36 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 1.40 / yr | $97K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.59 / yr | $142K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $7K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.22 / 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
Henry County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Hurricane (11), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Henry County?
Henry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Henry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $2M EAL), Drought (Medium, $646K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Henry County compare to other Alabama counties?
Henry County ranks #51 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Henry County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Henry County since 1975, most often 13 for severe storm events and 11 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. Henry County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.