Perry County, Alabama
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Perry County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $487 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Perry 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 22.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 53.7 | $829K | ||
| Strong wind | 51.0 | $336K | ||
| Hurricane | 69.3 | $325K | ||
| Earthquake | 61.1 | $284K | ||
| Heat wave | 48.8 | $210K | ||
| Lightning | 57.5 | $181K | ||
| Drought | 60.6 | $173K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.5 | $157K | ||
| Hail | 18.9 | $40K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.2 | $6K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.2 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 58.8 | $1K | ||
| Winter weather | 3.5 | $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 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 Perry 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 1960
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 163 storm reports in Perry County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $31.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 27, 1973.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1973 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 11, 1961 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Mar 25, 2021 | EF3 | Morgan Spgs | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF3 | Bethlehem | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 6, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1973 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 6, 1967 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Marion Perry Co Arpt | $1M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Uniontown | $645K |
| Dec 11, 1961 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 22, 1974 | Tornado | – | $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 1852, 2 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Perry County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Opal (1995), with top winds near 75 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Category 1, 75 mph | 40 mi |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Ivan | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 18, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 45 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 31, 1950 | Baker | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Category 1, 75 mph | 40 mi |
| Oct 8, 2017 | Nate | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 51 mi |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Ivan | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 5, 1995 | Opal | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 31, 1985 | Juan | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 31, 1950 | Baker | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 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 Perry 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 Perry 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; 3,962 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chilton County | 22 | |
| Dallas County | 25 | |
| Bibb County | 18 | |
| Marengo County | 18 | |
| Hale County | 21 |
Common questions about Perry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Perry County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Perry County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $829,207.
How many federal disasters has Perry County had?
Perry County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Is Perry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Perry County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Perry 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 Perry County had?
NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Perry County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 27, 1973. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 9 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Perry County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Perry County. The strongest was Hurricane Opal (1995), 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.