Montgomery County, AL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Montgomery County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Montgomery County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, tornado, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 177% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (93rd 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. Montgomery County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1975, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (10), severe storm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | 51.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 94.1 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 92.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 96.5 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 96.6 | 18 | 2 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 87.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 76.4 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 95.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 33.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 67.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 21.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 97 | 1 | 0 | $850K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 56.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 53 | 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
Montgomery County ranks in the 93rd 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 | 93rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 90th | High |
| Household characteristics | 88th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 81st | High |
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 | 47th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 35.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 49 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 36 in 2021–25 (+177% — 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 Montgomery County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Montgomery County, Alabama are lightning, tornado, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Montgomery County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Montgomery County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Montgomery County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County include Hurricane Helene (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1975.
How does Montgomery County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Elmore County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Macon County, AL has the lowest (Very Low). Montgomery County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Montgomery County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Montgomery 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. Montgomery County's composite score of 92 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 92% of US counties.