Lowndes County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Lowndes County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.1, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lowndes County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 29.1 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.
Risk here concentrates in heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $595K in expected annual loss and about 9.74 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $395K in expected annual loss and about 0.08 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $519K in expected annual loss and about 1.45 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lowndes 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Lowndes County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 11 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Lowndes County ranks #61 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.74 / yr | $595K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $395K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.45 / yr | $519K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 25.25 / yr | $98K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $155K |
| Lightning | Low | 69.90 / yr | $124K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $336 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.40 / yr | $8K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.93 / yr | $34K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $80K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.05 / 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
Lowndes County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Severe Storm (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| January 2016 | 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 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lowndes County?
Lowndes County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.1 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 Lowndes County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Low, $595K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $395K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $519K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lowndes County compare to other Alabama counties?
Lowndes County ranks #61 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lowndes County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Lowndes County since 1975, most often 11 for hurricane events and 4 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. Lowndes County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.