Dallas County

Alabama — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

70.8

National percentile: 71th

Dallas County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.8, 71th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $19M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 38K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Lightning
High $653K/yr
Tornado
Medium $3M/yr
Heat Wave
Medium $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Lightning High 69.77 / yr $653K
Tornado Medium 0.76 / yr $3M
Heat Wave Medium 10.00 / yr $1M
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $1M
Hurricane Low 0.08 / yr $829K
Riverine Flood Medium 0.50 / yr $10M
Drought Medium 25.07 / yr $360K
Strong Wind Medium 1.41 / yr $592K
Landslide Very Low 0.38 / yr $2K
Ice Storm Low 0.32 / yr $44K
Cold Wave Low 0.37 / yr $474K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $19K
Hail Low 2.11 / yr $116K
Winter Weather Very Low 1.32 / yr $4K
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 Dallas County?

Dallas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 71th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Dallas County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $653K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Dallas County compare to other Alabama counties?

Dallas County ranks #27 of 67 Alabama counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Dallas County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.