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Morgan County, Alabama

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$65Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$24.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$23.8 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$6.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 320 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate86.7
$24M
TornadoHigh98.3
$24M
EarthquakeModerate92.3
$6M
Cold waveModerate83.7
$4M
Heat waveModerate88.1
$2M
Strong windHigh90.5
$2M
LightningHigh93.0
$1M
HurricaneLow68.0
$417K
Ice stormModerate73.1
$220K
Winter weatherModerate83.7
$214K
HailLow49.0
$213K
DroughtLow47.8
$106K
WildfireVery Low48.9
$38K
LandslideVery Low26.4
$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

Severe Storm10
Hurricane6
Tornado2
Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
May 5, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 22
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
May 12, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 14, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Riv-Severe Winter Wx 12/23/98Major disaster
Feb 23, 1996Severe Winter Storms, Ice and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 9, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

50tornadoes
198hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
682damaging thunderstorm winds
147floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F5–56 / 0
Apr 24, 1955F4–20 / 5
Mar 22, 1952F4–50 / 4
Apr 27, 2011EF4Gum Pond0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 24, 1955Tornado–$3M
Dec 18, 1967Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Aug 16, 1985Tornado–$3M
Aug 16, 1985Tornado–$3M
May 13, 2009LightningHartselle$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1995most recent: Opal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Nov 1, 1985JuanTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Nov 1, 1985JuanTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (426 policies)
31.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 200 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $677,013 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 Morgan County

$212,000median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.7%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; 53,905 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
Madison CountyHigh19
Limestone CountyLow20
Marshall CountyModerate27
Cullman CountyModerate30
Lawrence CountyLow20

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.