Chambers County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Chambers County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Chambers County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, hurricane, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 27 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Chambers County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1970, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), hurricane (8), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1970.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 51.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 57.5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 67.3 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 70.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 39.1 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 58.2 | 1 | 0 | $100K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 38.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 27 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Chambers County ranks in the 83rd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 53rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 84th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 77th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 74.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 27 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 9 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 .
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Chambers County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Chambers County, Alabama are heat wave, hurricane, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Chambers County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Chambers County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Chambers County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Chambers County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Chambers County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lee County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Heard County, GA has the lowest (Very Low). Chambers County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Chambers County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Chambers County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Chambers County's composite score of 47 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 47% of US counties.