St. Clair County, Alabama Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 72th
St. Clair County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 72.1, 72th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in St. Clair County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 72.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 72nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 0.64 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $32K in expected annual loss and about 0.90 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 1.04 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 91K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Clair County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: St. Clair County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 12 for severe storm events and 8 for hurricane events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Alabama counties, St. Clair County ranks #26 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.64 / yr | $9M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.90 / yr | $32K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.04 / yr | $18M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.29 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $210K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.74 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 65.61 / yr | $540K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $151K |
| Drought | Low | 28.95 / yr | $103K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.38 / yr | $58K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.53 / yr | $131K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.00 / yr | $17K |
| 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
St. Clair County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Hurricane (8), Flood (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 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 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Clair County?
St. Clair County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 72.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 72th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Clair County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $9M EAL), Landslide (Low, $32K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $18M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Clair County compare to other Alabama counties?
St. Clair County ranks #26 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Clair County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for St. Clair County since 1973, most often 12 for severe storm events and 8 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. St. Clair County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.