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Perry County, Alabama

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

Very Low overall risk
66th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$4Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.6 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.
$829,207 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.
$336,318 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low22.5
$2M
TornadoLow53.7
$829K
Strong windLow51.0
$336K
HurricaneLow69.3
$325K
EarthquakeLow61.1
$284K
Heat waveLow48.8
$210K
LightningModerate57.5
$181K
DroughtLow60.6
$173K
Cold waveVery Low22.5
$157K
HailVery Low18.9
$40K
Ice stormVery Low15.2
$6K
WildfireVery Low23.2
$6K
LandslideVery Low58.8
$1K
Winter weatherVery Low3.5
$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

Hurricane11
Severe Storm8
Flood1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Apr 26, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2020Hurricane ZetaMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
May 21, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Show all 22
Feb 1, 2012Severe 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
Apr 28, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-LineMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 29, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

41tornadoes
47hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
65damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 1973F4–0 / 0
Dec 11, 1961F3–2 / 0
Mar 25, 2021EF3Morgan Spgs0 / 0
Mar 30, 2022EF3Bethlehem0 / 0
Mar 6, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 27, 1973Tornado–$25M
Mar 6, 1967Tornado–$3M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoMarion Perry Co Arpt$1M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoUniontown$645K
Dec 11, 1961Tornado–$250K
Apr 22, 1974Tornado–$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.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 75 mph40 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Oct 18, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 75 mph40 mi
Oct 8, 2017NateTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Sep 16, 2004IvanTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi
Oct 31, 1985JuanTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 60 mph52 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,315paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $7,315 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 Perry County

$86,400median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
32.1%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; 3,962 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
Chilton CountyLow22
Dallas CountyLow25
Bibb CountyVery Low18
Marengo CountyLow18
Hale CountyVery Low21

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.