Crenshaw County, Alabama
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Crenshaw County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $546 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 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 Crenshaw 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- 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 | 33.6 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 84.6 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 63.2 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 37.5 | $248K | ||
| Cold wave | 27.6 | $241K | ||
| Heat wave | 48.4 | $228K | ||
| Lightning | 57.7 | $202K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.3 | $79K | ||
| Hail | 14.6 | $32K | ||
| Drought | 36.4 | $31K | ||
| Wildfire | 25.2 | $7K | ||
| Winter weather | 5.6 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.0 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 41.1 | $464 |
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 Crenshaw County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 27
Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 247 storm reports in Crenshaw County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 30 injuries and about $6.8 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 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 4, 2015 | EF2 | Theba | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 29, 1965 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 18, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 20, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Luverne | $1M |
| Mar 8, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $300K |
| Nov 17, 2014 | Tornado | Blackrock | $285K |
| Apr 18, 1969 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 7, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Highland Home | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 21, 2025. 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, 7 hurricanes and 27 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Crenshaw County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 115 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Category 3, 115 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 4, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 90 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 29, 1917 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 64 mi |
| Jul 7, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 18, 1916 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 16, 2020 | Sally | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 6, 2001 | Barry | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 22, 2000 | Helene | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 4, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 90 mph | 58 mi |
| Jul 3, 1994 | Alberto | Tropical storm, 45 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 Crenshaw 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 Crenshaw 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; 6,583 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 | |
| Coffee County | 28 | |
| Covington County | 31 | |
| Pike County | 21 | |
| Butler County | 26 | |
| Lowndes County | 18 |
Common questions about Crenshaw County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Crenshaw County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crenshaw County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Crenshaw County had?
Crenshaw County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Is Crenshaw County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th 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 Crenshaw County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Crenshaw County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Crenshaw County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 18, 1969. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 19 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Crenshaw County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 7 hurricanes and 27 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Crenshaw County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 115 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.