Montgomery County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Montgomery County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.8, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $87M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Montgomery County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 91.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 92nd 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 lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 69.09 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 0.70 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 9.79 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $87M in expected annual loss for a population of 229K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montgomery 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: Montgomery County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 10 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Montgomery County ranks #5 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 69.09 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.70 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | High | 9.79 / yr | $7M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.40 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.36 / yr | $51M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $6M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.11 / yr | $580K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $152K |
| Drought | Low | 32.10 / yr | $182K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $41K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.05 / yr | $28K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $204K |
| 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
Montgomery County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (6), 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 |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| October 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| June 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Montgomery County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montgomery County compare to other Alabama counties?
Montgomery County ranks #5 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montgomery County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County since 1975, most often 10 for hurricane events and 6 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. Montgomery County's $87M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.