Clarke County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Clarke 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.
Clarke County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, landslide, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 68 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th 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. Clarke County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (17), severe storm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 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 | 43.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.4 | 25 | 0 | $2.5M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 52.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 67.8 | 12 | 0 | $25K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 89.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.7 | 25 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 27.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 21.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 55.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 68.1 | 6 | 0 | $139K |
| Drought | Very Low | 27.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 76.1 | 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
Clarke County ranks in the 84th 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 | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 84th | High |
| Household characteristics | 73rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 65th | Moderate |
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 | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 88.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 32 in 2016–20 vs 36 in 2021–25 (+13% — 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 Clarke County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Clarke County, Alabama are hurricane, landslide, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Clarke County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Clarke County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (17 declarations).
Has Clarke County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Clarke County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Clarke County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Choctaw County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Wilcox County, AL has the lowest (Very Low). Clarke County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Clarke County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Clarke 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. Clarke County's composite score of 53 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 53% of US counties.