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Natural hazard risk in Lee County, Alabama

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 79.7 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$40.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1975
20[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$511,000[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
39[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates overall natural hazard risk in Lee County, Alabama as Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 79.7 out of 100[5]. Within the county, the hazards with the highest FEMA scores are heat wave, lightning and inland flooding[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 estimates Expected Annual Loss from natural hazards in Lee County at $40.4 million a year, an estimate of average yearly loss and not money anyone paid[1][7]. Inland flooding accounts for the largest share, at $24.9 million a year[8]. Heat wave follows at $3.5 million a year[9] and tornado at $3.1 million a year[10]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability in Lee County Relatively Moderate, which describes how susceptible social groups are to the harm hazards cause[11]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively Moderate, which describes the ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[12].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$3.5 million[9]
LightningRelatively High$1.2 million[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$24.9 million[8]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$2.5 million[14]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.9 million[15]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$868,000[16]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2 million[17]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.1 million[10]
HailRelatively Low$610,000[18]
WildfireRelatively Low$205,000[19]
Ice StormRelatively Low$126,000[20]
LandslideVery Low$830[21]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$31,000[22]
Cold WaveVery Low$170,000[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate42.6[11]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate52.0[12]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Lee County Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 84.7[8]. OpenFEMA data show 250 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 51,557 residential structures, as of 2026-08-03[25]. From 1978 to 2026, 62 NFIP claims were filed for losses in the county and NFIP paid $511,000 in total[3]. To check the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[8] Relatively Moderate, $24.9 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 250 of 51,557 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 988, of which 137 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 62 filed, $511,000 paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lee County since 1975, with hurricane the most common incident type at 8[2]. The most recent was EM-3618-AL for Hurricane Helene, declared 2024-09-26[27]. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 39 tornadoes in Lee County from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated EF3, most recently on 2014-04-29[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lee County, since 1975
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 8
Severe Storm[2] 7
Tornado[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Flood[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3618-AL[27] Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26
EM-3545-AL[27] Hurricane Sally 2020-09-14
DR-4419-AL[27] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes 2019-03-05
EM-3389-AL[27] Hurricane Irma 2017-09-11
DR-4251-AL[27] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding 2016-01-21

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.

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Lee County, Alabama at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Lee County Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with an estimated Expected Annual Loss of $24.9 million a year[8]. FEMA rates coastal flooding Not Applicable for the county[24].
How do I check if a Lee County address is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26]. County ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[26].
How often do tornadoes hit Lee County, Alabama?
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 39 tornadoes in Lee County from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 2023-12-10[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[10].
Is Lee County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk in Lee County Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with an estimated Expected Annual Loss of $2.5 million a year[14]. OpenFEMA lists 8 hurricane disaster declarations that include the county since 1975[2].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Lee County?
OpenFEMA lists 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lee County since 1975, of which 11 were major disaster declarations[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Lee County is $40.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 79.9). Of this, buildings account for $30.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $8.8 million... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Lee County since 1975 (11 major disaster, 9 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 8, severe storm 7, tornado 2, drought 1, snowstorm 1, flood 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 62 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Lee County, 43 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $511,000 in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years with the... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 39 recorded tornadoes touched Lee County. The strongest were rated EF3 (most recent of them on 2014-04-29). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-12-10. 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 Lee County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 79.7 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 Lee County are heat wave (92.0, Relatively Moderate), lightning (90.7, Relatively High), inland flooding (84.7, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... 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. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $24.9 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.82 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 6.42 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 75.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.49 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Lee County is Relatively Moderate (score 42.6). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Lee County is Relatively Moderate (score 52.0). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 66.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 82.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.1 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 81.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.9 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0015 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 79.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $868,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 51.54 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 78.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.32 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 72.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $610,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.66 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 72.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $205,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0015 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $126,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.52 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Lee County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 43.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $830 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Lee County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 31.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $31,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.32 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Lee County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 16.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $170,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.42 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Lee County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, 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... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 250 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Lee County, out of 51,557 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 988 residential structures and 137 contracts, a rate of... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. 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
  27. 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.