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Bullock County, Alabama

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

Very Low overall risk
64th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$5Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 39 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$934,334 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low20.2
$1M
DroughtHigh91.0
$1M
TornadoLow56.7
$934K
HurricaneLow76.2
$699K
Strong windModerate52.4
$358K
Heat waveLow50.0
$222K
EarthquakeVery Low45.5
$128K
LightningLow40.2
$97K
HailVery Low24.0
$53K
Cold waveVery Low10.1
$45K
WildfireVery Low46.1
$22K
Ice stormVery Low16.4
$7K
Winter weatherVery Low3.8
$2K
LandslideVery Low40.8
$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

Hurricane10
Severe Storm9
Flood1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Oct 12, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2014Severe 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
Jun 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Show all 22
Apr 28, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-LineMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
May 12, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 2, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

26tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
83damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 18, 1969F4–3 / 0
Apr 6, 2016EF2Three Notch0 / 0
Mar 18, 1981F1–0 / 0
May 18, 1969F1–0 / 0
Apr 14, 2007EF1Tanyard0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 18, 1969Tornado–$250K
Mar 18, 1981Tornado–$250K
May 20, 2010Thunderstorm WindPine Grove$200K
Jul 29, 2000Thunderstorm WindMidway$125K
May 7, 2009Flash FloodMitchell$100K
Sep 28, 1998TornadoUnion 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.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph61 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Jul 7, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Sep 29, 1917UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Jul 27, 1887UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 17, 2020SallyTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 35 mph54 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
1.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$62,115paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $61,461 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 Bullock County

$81,700median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
43.3%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; 4,579 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
Russell CountyLow22
Pike CountyLow21
Barbour CountyLow26
Macon CountyVery Low24

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.