Home › Alabama › Henry County

Henry County, Alabama

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

Very Low overall risk
51st of 67highest risk in Alabama
$9Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henry County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $500 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $467,000 on 19 claims here.

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

Top risks in Henry County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow38.4
$3M
HurricaneModerate82.7
$2M
TornadoModerate72.6
$2M
DroughtModerate81.2
$646K
Cold waveLow49.1
$591K
LightningModerate57.3
$196K
Heat waveLow43.9
$178K
Strong windLow23.9
$142K
HailLow35.6
$97K
EarthquakeVery Low39.2
$95K
WildfireVery Low33.8
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low13.2
$7K
Ice stormVery Low8.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low46.2
$698

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Henry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Hurricane11
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Apr 28, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsEmergency
Show all 26
Dec 31, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-LineMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Nov 14, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2000Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 2, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 339 storm reports in Henry County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 38 injuries and about $29.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 29, 1973.

41tornadoes
33hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
244damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 29, 1973F3–2 / 0
Jan 13, 1972F3–2 / 0
Nov 5, 2002F2Abbeville20 / 1
Apr 19, 2020EF2Tumbleton0 / 1
Apr 5, 2017EF2Coates0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 2007TornadoAbbeville$11M
Nov 5, 2002TornadoAbbeville$3M
Dec 16, 2000TornadoAbbeville$3M
Dec 29, 1973Tornado–$3M
Nov 4, 1992Tornado–$3M
Dec 24, 2002TornadoHeadland$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 12, 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, 9 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Henry County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 135 mph about 62 miles away.

9hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
31tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 4, 135 mph62 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph54 mi
Aug 23, 1851UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph65 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph58 mi
Aug 31, 1856UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 16, 2021FredTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 4, 135 mph62 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 6, 2004FrancesTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 3, 1998EarlTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Aug 16, 1994BerylTropical storm, 50 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 Henry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
10.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$466,508paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $231,101 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 Henry County

$161,000median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.7%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; 9,215 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
Dale CountyLow31
Barbour CountyLow26
Early County, GALow14
Clay County, GAVery Low13

Cities in Henry County

Common questions about Henry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Henry County had?

Henry County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Henry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Henry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Henry 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 Henry County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 29, 1973. The weather service has also logged 33 hail reports and 19 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henry County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 9 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Henry County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 135 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.