Morgan County, Alabama
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Morgan County, Alabama has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $65 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $528 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (426 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 200 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Morgan 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.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 86.7 | $24M | ||
| Tornado | 98.3 | $24M | ||
| Earthquake | 92.3 | $6M | ||
| Cold wave | 83.7 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 88.1 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 90.5 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 93.0 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 68.0 | $417K | ||
| Ice storm | 73.1 | $220K | ||
| Winter weather | 83.7 | $214K | ||
| Hail | 49.0 | $213K | ||
| Drought | 47.8 | $106K | ||
| Wildfire | 48.9 | $38K | ||
| Landslide | 26.4 | $190 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Morgan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,104 storm reports in Morgan County since 1952, with 15 deaths and 252 injuries and about $25 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | F5 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F5 | – | 56 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 1955 | F4 | – | 20 / 5 |
| Mar 22, 1952 | F4 | – | 50 / 4 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | Gum Pond | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1955 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Dec 18, 1967 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 16, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 16, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 13, 2009 | Lightning | Hartselle | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 29, 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 1892, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Morgan County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1916, with top winds near 50 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 13, 1892 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 51 mi |
| Nov 1, 1985 | Juan | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 47 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Nov 1, 1985 | Juan | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 18, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 13, 1892 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 51 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 Morgan 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 Morgan 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; 53,905 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 19 | |
| Limestone County | 20 | |
| Marshall County | 27 | |
| Cullman County | 30 | |
| Lawrence County | 20 |
Cities in Morgan County
Common questions about Morgan County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Morgan County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morgan County, about $24.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $23.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Morgan County had?
Morgan County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Is Morgan County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Morgan County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Morgan 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Morgan County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 198 hail reports and 147 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Morgan County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Morgan County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1916, with winds near 50 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.