Lee County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Lee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.7, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $40M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lee County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 79.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Lee County's expected losses come from heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 6.42 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 66.07 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $25M in expected annual loss and about 0.82 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $40M in expected annual loss for a population of 174K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lee County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Lee County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 8 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Lee County ranks #23 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.42 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 66.07 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.82 / yr | $25M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 51.54 / yr | $868K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.32 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.49 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 2.66 / yr | $610K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $205K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.52 / yr | $126K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.34 / yr | $830 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.32 / yr | $31K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $170K |
| 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
Lee County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| January 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2014 | 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 |
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 Lee County?
Lee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $25M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lee County compare to other Alabama counties?
Lee County ranks #23 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lee County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Lee County since 1975, most often 8 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. Lee County's $40M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.