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Chilton County, Alabama

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

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$16Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chilton County, Alabama has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $358 per resident. Since 1973 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 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $78,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Chilton County

$8.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.9 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.
$844,742 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.2
$8M
TornadoModerate85.8
$5M
Cold waveLow50.0
$845K
Heat waveLow68.1
$748K
EarthquakeLow66.0
$566K
LightningModerate64.6
$359K
Strong windLow28.4
$243K
HurricaneVery Low58.1
$145K
WildfireVery Low63.3
$94K
HailVery Low21.7
$69K
DroughtLow41.3
$66K
Ice stormVery Low23.5
$19K
LandslideLow76.7
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low9.0
$6K

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 moderate 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 Chilton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane10
Severe Storm7
Flood2
Tornado1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Dec 10, 2020Hurricane ZetaMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Feb 1, 2012Severe 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
Dec 31, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1979FloodingEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 333 storm reports in Chilton County since 1953, with 7 deaths and 46 injuries and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 17, 1968.

44tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 3 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 17, 1968F3–24 / 1
Nov 24, 2004F2Pletcher0 / 0
Mar 16, 1973F2–0 / 0
Jan 3, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jan 3, 1982F2–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 17, 1968Tornado–$3M
Nov 24, 2004TornadoPletcher$500K
Dec 20, 1957Tornado–$250K
Mar 16, 1973Tornado–$250K
Jan 3, 1982Tornado–$250K
Jan 3, 1982Tornado–$250K

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 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Chilton County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 80 mph about 57 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Oct 8, 2017NateTropical storm, 35 mph57 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi
Nov 1, 1985JuanTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph57 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 Chilton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
5.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$78,492paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $36,267 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 Chilton County

$161,300median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.5%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; 19,839 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
Shelby CountyModerate24
Elmore CountyLow22
Autauga CountyLow22
Dallas CountyLow25
Bibb CountyVery Low18
Coosa CountyVery Low21
Perry CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Chilton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chilton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chilton County, about $8.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Chilton County had?

Chilton County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Chilton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Chilton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Chilton 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 Chilton County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Chilton County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 17, 1968. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 15 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Chilton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Chilton County. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 80 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.