Bullock County, Alabama
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bullock County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 64th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $497 per resident. Since 1975 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). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Bullock County
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 20.2 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 91.0 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 56.7 | $934K | ||
| Hurricane | 76.2 | $699K | ||
| Strong wind | 52.4 | $358K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.0 | $222K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.5 | $128K | ||
| Lightning | 40.2 | $97K | ||
| Hail | 24.0 | $53K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.1 | $45K | ||
| Wildfire | 46.1 | $22K | ||
| Ice storm | 16.4 | $7K | ||
| Winter weather | 3.8 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 40.8 | $419 |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Bullock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1964
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 148 storm reports in Bullock County since 1964, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 18, 1969.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1969 | F4 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 6, 2016 | EF2 | Three Notch | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2007 | EF1 | Tanyard | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1969 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 18, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 20, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pine Grove | $200K |
| Jul 29, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Midway | $125K |
| May 7, 2009 | Flash Flood | Mitchell | $100K |
| Sep 28, 1998 | Tornado | Union Spgs | $80K |
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, 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bullock County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 105 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Category 2, 105 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
| Jul 7, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 29, 1917 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 27, 1887 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 17, 2020 | Sally | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 2017 | Irma | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 54 mi |
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Category 2, 105 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 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 Bullock County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Bullock County
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; 4,579 housing units.
Compare in Alabama
All 67 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Mobile County | Hurricane | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding | |
| Baldwin County | Hurricane | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Tuscaloosa County | Inland flooding | |
| Shelby County | Inland flooding | |
| Lee County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Russell County | 22 | |
| Pike County | 21 | |
| Barbour County | 26 | |
| Macon County | 24 |
Common questions about Bullock County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bullock County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bullock County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Bullock County had?
Bullock County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Is Bullock County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 64th 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 Bullock County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Bullock 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 Bullock County had?
NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Bullock County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 18, 1969. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Bullock County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bullock County. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 105 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.