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Autauga County, Alabama

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$20Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Autauga County, Alabama has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $336 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (185 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 77 claims here, including $465,000 for floods in 1990.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Autauga County

$11 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow65.5
$11M
TornadoModerate74.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate85.9
$2M
LightningModerate81.7
$791K
HurricaneLow72.1
$726K
EarthquakeLow67.8
$706K
Strong windLow51.7
$583K
Cold waveLow28.2
$380K
HailLow44.3
$212K
DroughtLow45.6
$106K
Ice stormLow43.0
$62K
WildfireVery Low45.7
$36K
LandslideLow73.5
$8K
Winter weatherVery Low9.0
$7K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Autauga County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane11
Severe Storm7
Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Jan 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2020Hurricane ZetaMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Nov 16, 2017Hurricane NateMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsEmergency
Show all 22
Jun 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1979FloodingEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 371 storm reports in Autauga County since 1958, with 10 deaths and 92 injuries and about $24.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on January 12, 2023 near Independence.

44tornadoes
89hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
202damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 12, 2023EF3Independence16 / 7
Apr 15, 2011EF3Poseys Xrds4 / 3
Feb 17, 2008EF3Prattville Arpt50 / 0
Mar 12, 1976F3–4 / 0
Nov 24, 2004F2Autaugaville1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 17, 2008TornadoPrattville Arpt$10M
Mar 12, 1976Tornado–$3M
Apr 25, 2003HailJones$3M
Apr 15, 2011TornadoPoseys Xrds$1M
Apr 25, 2003Thunderstorm WindPrattville$1M
Sep 19, 2009Flash FloodPine Flat$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 1, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1852, 2 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Autauga County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 90 mph about 52 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
19tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 90 mph52 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 80 mph55 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Sep 16, 2020SallyTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 8, 2017NateTropical storm, 35 mph65 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 80 mph55 mi
Oct 31, 1985JuanTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Autauga County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (185 policies)
22%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 77 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $464,945 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Autauga County

$207,200median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 25,039 housing units.

Compare in Alabama

All 67 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Mobile CountyHighHurricane
Madison CountyHighInland flooding
Baldwin CountyHighHurricane
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Tuscaloosa CountyModerateInland flooding
Shelby CountyModerateInland flooding
Lee CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Montgomery CountyModerate22
Elmore CountyLow22
Chilton CountyLow22
Dallas CountyLow25
Lowndes CountyVery Low18

Cities in Autauga County

Common questions about Autauga County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Autauga County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Autauga County, about $11 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Autauga County had?

Autauga County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Autauga County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th highest of 67 in Alabama. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Autauga County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Autauga County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Autauga County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Autauga County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on January 12, 2023 near Independence. The weather service has also logged 89 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Autauga County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Autauga County. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 90 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.