Lowndes County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lowndes County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Lowndes County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, hurricane, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (90th 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. Lowndes County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1975, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (11), severe storm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1975.
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 | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 31.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 72.7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 67.1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 71.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 16.9 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 18.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 14 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 47.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 52.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 38.2 | 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
Lowndes County ranks in the 90th 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 | 90th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 97th | High |
| Household characteristics | 76th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 98th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | 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 | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 95.2% | — |
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 Lowndes County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lowndes County, Alabama are heat wave, hurricane, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Lowndes County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lowndes County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (11 declarations).
Has Lowndes County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lowndes County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1975.
How does Lowndes County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Montgomery County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Crenshaw County, AL has the lowest (Very Low). Lowndes County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Lowndes County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lowndes 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. Lowndes County's composite score of 29 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 29% of US counties.