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Natural hazard risk in Baldwin County, Alabama

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 96.7 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$237.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1969
37[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$659.5 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
112[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural hazard risk for Baldwin County, Alabama as Relatively High compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in this county are hurricane, lightning and tornado[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Baldwin County an overall Risk Index score of 96.7 out of 100[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $237.4 million a year[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's Expected Annual Loss values by hazard type are hurricane ($159.4 million a year), inland flooding ($48.3 million a year) and tornado ($9.0 million a year), out of the $237.4 million total[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability as Relatively Moderate, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates community resilience as Very High, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
HurricaneVery High$159.4 million[11]
LightningVery High$4.1 million[12]
TornadoRelatively High$9.0 million[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$48.3 million[14]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$3.6 million[15]
WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.5 million[16]
Coastal FloodingRelatively High$4.1 million[17]
Strong WindRelatively High$1.6 million[18]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$3.7 million[19]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$664,000[20]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$916,000[21]
LandslideRelatively Low$3,798[22]
HailRelatively Low$414,000[23]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$86,000[24]
Ice StormRelatively Low$77,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, volcanic activity[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate44.2[9]
Community resilienceVery High93.0[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates coastal flooding risk as Relatively High and inland flooding risk as Relatively Moderate for Baldwin County[17][14]. OpenFEMA lists 9,007 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, a penetration rate of 9.2% of residential structures[27]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 63.6% of homes are insured[27]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data from 1978 to 2026 show 19,745 claims for losses in the county, and NFIP paid $659.5 million in total[3]. To learn about a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[14] Relatively Moderate, $48.3 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[17] Relatively High, $4.1 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 9,007 of 97,390 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 10,442, of which 6,643 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 19,745 filed, $659.5 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 37 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Baldwin County since 1969, and 24 of them were for hurricanes[2]. The most recent listed is EM-3656-AL, declared 2026-10-09[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 112 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated F3, and the most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-12-29[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Baldwin County, since 1969
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 24
Severe Storm[2] 8
Flood[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3656-AL[29] Hurricane Isaias 2026-10-09
EM-3618-AL[29] Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26
DR-4563-AL[29] Hurricane Sally 2020-09-20
EM-3545-AL[29] Hurricane Sally 2020-09-14
EM-3407-AL[29] Hurricane Michael 2018-10-12

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Baldwin County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates coastal flooding risk as Relatively High and inland flooding risk as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[17][14]. OpenFEMA lists 19,745 NFIP claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026[3].
Is Baldwin County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk as Very High compared with other US counties, with a score of 99.2 out of 100[11]. OpenFEMA lists 24 hurricane declarations that include the county since 1969[2].
Does Baldwin County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 112 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk as Relatively High compared with other US counties[13].
What is the earthquake risk in Baldwin County?
FEMA rates earthquake risk as Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 72.3 out of 100[21]. FEMA's Expected Annual Loss for earthquake is $916,000 a year[21].
How can I check the flood zone for an address in Baldwin County?
Flood zones apply to specific properties, and county ratings do not tell you the zone of one address[28]. Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Baldwin County is $237.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 96.6). Of this, buildings account for $208.4 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $26.5... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 37 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Baldwin County since 1969 (23 major disaster, 14 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 24, severe storm 8, flood 2, drought 1, tornado 1, snowstorm 1. Biological (such as COVID-19)... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 19,745 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Baldwin County, 15,581 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $659.5 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 112 recorded tornadoes touched Baldwin County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 2001-10-13). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-12-29. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Baldwin County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 96.7 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Baldwin County are hurricane (99.2, Very High), lightning (98.8, Very High), tornado (92.8, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's scores... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Baldwin County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are hurricane ($159.4 million a year), inland flooding ($48.3 million a year), tornado ($9.0 million a year), out of $237.4 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Baldwin County is Relatively Moderate (score 44.2). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Baldwin County is Very High (score 93.0). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $159.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.24 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.1 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 84.29 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 92.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $9.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.34 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $48.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.96 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 9.29 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0031 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 85.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 3.6841 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 85.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.88 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 80.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.7 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.81 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 74.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $664,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 15.58 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 72.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $916,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0013 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 65.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3,798 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 63.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $414,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.46 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $86,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.69 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Baldwin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 48.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $77,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.18 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Baldwin County: avalanche, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 9,007 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Baldwin County, out of 97,390 residential structures, a penetration rate of 9.2%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 10,442 residential structures and 6,643 contracts,... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  29. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.