Houston County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Houston County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.8, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $55M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Houston County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 87.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.50 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 74.68 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 0.20 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $55M in expected annual loss for a population of 107K.
Beyond physical exposure, Houston County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
History supports the rating: Houston County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 12 for hurricane events and 11 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Houston County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.50 / yr | $11M |
| Lightning | High | 74.68 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.20 / yr | $13M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.68 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $23M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.05 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 33.35 / yr | $638K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.37 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $757K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.11 / yr | $97K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $41K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.47 / yr | $50K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $470 |
| Hail | Low | 1.23 / yr | $129K |
| 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
Houston County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (12), Severe Storm (11), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 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 Houston County?
Houston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Houston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $11M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (High, $13M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Houston County compare to other Alabama counties?
Houston County ranks #10 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Houston County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Houston County since 1975, most often 12 for hurricane events and 11 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. Houston County's $55M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.