Marion County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 69th
Marion County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.1, 69th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $17M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 69.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 69th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 64.98 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.80 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $22K in expected annual loss and about 1.76 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $17M in expected annual loss for a population of 29K.
Beyond physical exposure, Marion County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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 federal record bears this out: Marion County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 12 for severe storm events and 7 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Marion County ranks #30 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 64.98 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.80 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.76 / yr | $22K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $991K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.16 / yr | $480K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $284K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.86 / yr | $6M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.88 / yr | $465K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.71 / yr | $52K |
| Hail | Low | 4.29 / yr | $135K |
| Drought | Low | 17.86 / yr | $32K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.47 / yr | $8K |
| 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
Marion County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Hurricane (7), 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 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
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 Marion County?
Marion County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 69th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Marion County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $4M EAL), Landslide (Low, $22K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Marion County compare to other Alabama counties?
Marion County ranks #30 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Marion County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Marion County since 1973, most often 12 for severe storm events and 7 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. Marion County's $17M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.