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Montgomery County, Alabama

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$87Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Alabama has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $87 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $381 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (725 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.7 million on 417 claims here, including $2.5 million for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$51 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.
$13.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$6.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh94.1
$51M
TornadoHigh96.6
$13M
Heat waveHigh96.5
$7M
EarthquakeModerate92.5
$6M
HurricaneModerate87.3
$4M
Strong windHigh95.7
$3M
LightningVery High97.0
$2M
HailModerate76.4
$580K
Cold waveVery Low21.7
$204K
DroughtLow56.8
$182K
Ice stormModerate67.5
$152K
WildfireVery Low51.6
$41K
Winter weatherLow33.5
$28K
LandslideVery Low53.0
$1K

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 relatively high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane10
Severe Storm6
Flood2
Tornado2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Oct 12, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
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
Jun 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 3, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Mar 20, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1984Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 528 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1956, with 11 deaths and 126 injuries and about $23.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 3, 1984.

58tornadoes
127hail reports, largest 3 inches
283damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 3, 1984F3–37 / 5
Nov 25, 1979F3–20 / 0
Mar 6, 1996F2Montgomery17 / 2
Nov 30, 2022EF2Boylston2 / 2
Jan 10, 1975F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 3, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jan 10, 1975Tornado–$3M
Nov 25, 1979Tornado–$3M
May 7, 2009Flash FloodMontgomery$2M
Mar 6, 1996TornadoMontgomery$2M
Mar 6, 1996TornadoMontgomery$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 1852, 3 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 105 mph about 65 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
21tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph65 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 85 mph65 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph63 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Jul 27, 1887UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 16, 2020SallyTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 85 mph65 mi
Oct 31, 1985JuanTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph65 mi
Aug 15, 1928UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (725 policies)
12.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.7 millionpaid on 417 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $2.5 million 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 Montgomery County

$171,900median 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
3.9%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; 106,121 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
Elmore CountyLow22
Autauga CountyLow22
Pike CountyLow21
Macon CountyVery Low24
Crenshaw CountyVery Low27
Bullock CountyVery Low22
Lowndes CountyVery Low18

Cities in Montgomery County

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $51 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $13.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Montgomery County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County had?

NOAA records list 58 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 3, 1984. The weather service has also logged 127 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montgomery County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 105 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.