Covington County

Alabama — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

82.4

National percentile: 82th

Covington County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.4, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $33M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 38K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Lightning
High $1M/yr
Hurricane
High $18M/yr
Tornado
Medium $3M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Lightning High 75.21 / yr $1M
Hurricane High 0.18 / yr $18M
Tornado Medium 0.94 / yr $3M
Heat Wave Low 7.26 / yr $610K
Riverine Flood Low 0.61 / yr $9M
Cold Wave Low 0.95 / yr $861K
Drought Low 24.55 / yr $143K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $233K
Landslide Very Low 0.28 / yr $972
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $32K
Strong Wind Low 2.11 / yr $295K
Ice Storm Low 0.12 / yr $26K
Winter Weather Low 0.74 / yr $21K
Hail Very Low 1.39 / yr $42K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Covington County?

Covington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Covington County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (High, $18M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Covington County compare to other Alabama counties?

Covington County ranks #18 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Covington County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.