Randolph County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 31th
Randolph County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.6, 31th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Randolph County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 30.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 31st 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.
Most of Randolph County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $565K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $3K in expected annual loss and about 1.07 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $89K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 22K.
Beyond physical exposure, Randolph County has a 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: Randolph County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 10 for severe storm events and 9 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, Randolph County ranks #59 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $565K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.07 / yr | $3K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $89K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.45 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $183K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.37 / yr | $234K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.63 / yr | $614K |
| Drought | Low | 43.97 / yr | $67K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Low | 4.35 / yr | $146K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.50 / yr | $27K |
| Lightning | Low | 61.74 / yr | $82K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.22 / yr | $192K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.68 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Randolph County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Hurricane (9), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Randolph County?
Randolph County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 31th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Randolph County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $565K EAL), Landslide (Low, $3K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $89K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Randolph County compare to other Alabama counties?
Randolph County ranks #59 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Randolph County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Randolph County since 1977, most often 10 for severe storm events and 9 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. Randolph County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.