Geneva County, Alabama
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Geneva County, Alabama has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 53% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $441 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (55 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 154 claims here, including $994,000 for floods in 1998.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Geneva 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 | 55.4 | $5M | ||
| Hurricane | 87.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 51.6 | $877K | ||
| Cold wave | 55.4 | $777K | ||
| Drought | 70.3 | $353K | ||
| Lightning | 70.6 | $340K | ||
| Heat wave | 52.9 | $286K | ||
| Strong wind | 35.9 | $239K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.9 | $148K | ||
| Hail | 14.8 | $33K | ||
| Ice storm | 28.8 | $20K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.8 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.4 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 23.4 | $111 |
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 Geneva County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 453 storm reports in Geneva County since 1956, with 1 death and 20 injuries and about $12.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on December 16, 2000 near Geneva.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2000 | F2 | Geneva | 9 / 1 |
| Apr 12, 1980 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | EF2 | Geneva | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 24, 1997 | F1 | Eunola | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 1998 | F1 | Slocomb | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2000 | Tornado | Geneva | $3M |
| Feb 11, 2013 | Flood | Lowery | $2M |
| Sep 28, 1998 | Flash Flood | Samson | $2M |
| Jan 19, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Geneva | $600K |
| Sep 16, 2020 | Flash Flood | Bailey Crossroads | $500K |
| Dec 24, 2015 | Flood | Lowery | $451K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 1851, 19 hurricanes and 33 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Geneva County, 21 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 145 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 4, 145 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Category 3, 125 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 9, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 23, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 29, 1917 | Unnamed | Category 3, 110 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 16, 2020 | Sally | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 4, 145 mph | 58 mi |
| May 28, 2018 | Alberto | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 17, 2009 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 23, 2008 | Fay | 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 Geneva 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 Geneva 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; 12,584 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Houston County | 26 | |
| Walton County, FL | 42 | |
| Coffee County | 28 | |
| Dale County | 31 | |
| Jackson County, FL | 34 | |
| Covington County | 31 | |
| Holmes County, FL | 39 |
Common questions about Geneva County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Geneva County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Geneva County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Geneva County had?
Geneva County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Is Geneva County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Geneva County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Geneva 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 Geneva County had?
NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Geneva County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on December 16, 2000 near Geneva. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 56 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Geneva County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 33 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Geneva County, including 6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 145 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.