Lamar County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lamar County has experienced 26 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Lamar County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, earthquake, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 64% 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. Lamar County has been designated in 26 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (12), hurricane (7), 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 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2014 | 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 26 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 | 24.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 31.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 74.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 61.8 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 61.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 26.7 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 37.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 53.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 89.2 | 1 | 0 | $150K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 37.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 73.4 | 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
Lamar County ranks in the 47th percentile (Low) 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 | 47th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 57th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 47th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 41st | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | 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 | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 29 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 (+64% — 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 Lamar County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lamar County, Alabama are lightning, earthquake, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Lamar County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lamar County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Lamar County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lamar County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Lamar County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lowndes County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Fayette County, AL has the lowest (Very Low). Lamar County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Lamar County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lamar 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. Lamar County's composite score of 31 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 31% of US counties.