Macon County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 24th
Macon County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 23.9, 24th national percentile), driven primarily by drought 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
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Macon County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 23.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 24th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $379K in expected annual loss and about 47.57 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $350K in expected annual loss and about 0.10 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $297K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 19K.
Beyond physical exposure, Macon 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Macon County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 10 for hurricane events and 10 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Macon County ranks #65 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 47.57 / yr | $379K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.10 / yr | $350K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $297K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.68 / yr | $374K |
| Lightning | Medium | 67.17 / yr | $210K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $36K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.52 / yr | $760K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $553 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.56 / yr | $68K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.49 / yr | $16K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.36 / yr | $158K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $3K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $21K |
| 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
Macon County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (10), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 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 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Macon County?
Macon County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 23.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 24th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Macon County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $379K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $350K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $297K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Macon County compare to other Alabama counties?
Macon County ranks #65 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Macon County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Macon County since 1975, most often 10 for hurricane events and 10 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. Macon County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.