Choctaw County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Choctaw County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Choctaw County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, tornado, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 36% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Choctaw County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (14), severe storm (6), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 52.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 73.5 | 15 | 0 | $770K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 70.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 46 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 77.8 | 16 | 0 | $750K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 89.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 46.3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 29.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 24 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 50.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 54.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 31.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 73.7 | 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
Choctaw County ranks in the 65th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 65th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 69th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 80th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 82nd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | Low |
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 | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 96.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 33 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (+36% — frequency increasing).
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 Choctaw County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Choctaw County, Alabama are hurricane, tornado, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Choctaw County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Choctaw County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (14 declarations).
Has Choctaw County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Choctaw County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Choctaw County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lauderdale County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Clarke County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). Choctaw County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Choctaw County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Choctaw 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. Choctaw County's composite score of 71 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 71% of US counties.