Fayette County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fayette County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Fayette County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, strong wind, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 33 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (75th 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. Fayette County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1974, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (8), hurricane (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1974.
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 | 27.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 41.1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 63.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 67.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 65.2 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 64 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 29.6 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 72.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 7.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 55.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 49.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 78.8 | 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
Fayette County ranks in the 75th 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 | 75th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 85th | High |
| Household characteristics | 48th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 46th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 69th | 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 | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 89.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 33 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 17 in 2021–25 (+6% — relatively stable).
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 Fayette County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fayette County, Alabama are landslide, strong wind, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Fayette County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Fayette County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Fayette County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Fayette County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Fayette County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Tuscaloosa County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Lamar County, AL has the lowest (Very Low). Fayette County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Fayette County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Fayette 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. Fayette County's composite score of 38 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 38% of US counties.