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Geneva County, Alabama

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 67highest risk in Alabama
$12Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • 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.
$876,787 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 floodingLow55.4
$5M
HurricaneModerate87.3
$3M
TornadoLow51.6
$877K
Cold waveLow55.4
$777K
DroughtModerate70.3
$353K
LightningModerate70.6
$340K
Heat waveLow52.9
$286K
Strong windLow35.9
$239K
EarthquakeVery Low45.9
$148K
HailVery Low14.8
$33K
Ice stormLow28.8
$20K
WildfireVery Low37.8
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low18.4
$11K
LandslideVery Low23.4
$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

Hurricane16
Severe Storm11
Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 20, 2020Hurricane SallyMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Nov 5, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
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
Sep 21, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Show all 31
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
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
Dec 18, 2000Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1998Hurricane Georges - 18 Sep 98Major disaster
Sep 28, 1998Hurricane GeorgesEmergency
Mar 9, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1994Severe Storms and Flooding (Tropical Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 1979Hurricane FredericMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 2, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

32tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
324damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 16, 2000F2Geneva9 / 1
Apr 12, 1980F2–1 / 0
Jan 25, 2026EF2Geneva0 / 0
Dec 24, 1997F1Eunola1 / 0
Jun 23, 1998F1Slocomb0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 16, 2000TornadoGeneva$3M
Feb 11, 2013FloodLowery$2M
Sep 28, 1998Flash FloodSamson$2M
Jan 19, 2001Thunderstorm WindGeneva$600K
Sep 16, 2020Flash FloodBailey Crossroads$500K
Dec 24, 2015FloodLowery$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.

19hurricanes
6major hurricanes (Category 3+)
33tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 4, 145 mph58 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 3, 125 mph62 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph65 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph65 mi
Aug 23, 1851UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Sep 29, 1917UnnamedCategory 3, 110 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 16, 2021FredTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 16, 2020SallyTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 4, 145 mph58 mi
May 28, 2018AlbertoTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 17, 2009ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 2008FayTropical storm, 45 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 Geneva County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (55 policies)
12.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 154 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $993,674 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 Geneva County

$130,700median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.4%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; 12,584 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
Houston CountyModerate26
Walton County, FLModerate42
Coffee CountyModerate28
Dale CountyLow31
Jackson County, FLLow34
Covington CountyModerate31
Holmes County, FLLow39

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.