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Greene County, Alabama

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 56homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Greene County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $725 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). About 1 in 56 homes here carry federal flood insurance (69 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 111 claims here, including $403,000 for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Greene County

$2.2 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$813,256 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 Low32.8
$2M
Heat waveModerate86.0
$1M
TornadoLow53.5
$813K
Strong windLow50.9
$332K
EarthquakeLow62.6
$309K
LightningModerate68.1
$270K
HurricaneLow63.0
$168K
Cold waveVery Low18.7
$118K
HailVery Low22.0
$46K
Ice stormVery Low22.2
$12K
DroughtVery Low26.0
$8K
WildfireVery Low14.2
$3K
Winter weatherVery Low3.4
$1K
LandslideVery Low38.0
$335

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 Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Severe Storm7
Tornado1
Drought1
Flood1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Jan 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
May 21, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Apr 28, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsEmergency
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Nov 14, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 168 storm reports in Greene County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $11.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on February 26, 1971.

30tornadoes
46hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
83damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 26, 1971F3–0 / 0
Mar 10, 1992F3–0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Tishabee0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Mantua0 / 0
Feb 23, 1977F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2011TornadoTishabee$5M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoMantua$3M
Apr 10, 2004Thunderstorm WindBoligee$2M
Apr 15, 2011TornadoForkland$371K
Nov 18, 1957Tornado–$250K
Feb 26, 1971Tornado–$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 1855, 2 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Frederic (1979), with top winds near 75 mph about 62 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericCategory 1, 75 mph62 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 75 mph33 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 65 mph56 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 60 mph41 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 75 mph33 mi
Oct 8, 2017NateTropical storm, 40 mph45 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 65 mph56 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericCategory 1, 75 mph62 mi
Sep 17, 1971EdithTropical storm, 40 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (69 policies)
13%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 111 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $403,094 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 Greene County

$81,200median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
34.7%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; 4,279 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
Tuscaloosa CountyModerate26
Marengo CountyLow18
Pickens CountyLow17
Hale CountyVery Low21
Sumter CountyLow18

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 56 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on February 26, 1971. The weather service has also logged 46 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was Hurricane Frederic (1979), with winds near 75 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.