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Pike County, Alabama

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

Relatively Low overall risk
50th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$11Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Alabama has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $325 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Only 12 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 Pike County

$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$1.2 million 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.6
$5M
HurricaneModerate83.6
$2M
TornadoLow57.7
$1M
Heat waveLow76.3
$951K
Strong windLow50.5
$428K
LightningModerate66.2
$330K
EarthquakeVery Low57.0
$303K
DroughtLow51.4
$122K
Cold waveVery Low13.1
$95K
HailVery Low24.7
$70K
Ice stormVery Low22.3
$15K
WildfireVery Low33.9
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low11.0
$7K
LandslideLow64.0
$3K

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 Pike County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane11
Severe Storm7
Flood1
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
Sep 20, 2020Hurricane SallyMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 12, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergency
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Jan 21, 2016Severe 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
Show all 21
Dec 31, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 2, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Alabama also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 245 storm reports in Pike County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 22 injuries and about $5.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 19, 1974.

53tornadoes
47hail reports, largest 3 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 19, 1974F3–0 / 0
Mar 2, 1971F3–0 / 0
Mar 3, 1971F3–0 / 0
Dec 19, 1974F3–1 / 0
Nov 15, 2006F2Hamilton Xrds0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 5, 1989Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 2006TornadoHamilton Xrds$500K
Apr 18, 1969Tornado–$250K
Jul 3, 1972Tornado–$250K
Dec 19, 1974Tornado–$250K
Nov 26, 1986Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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, 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 105 mph about 38 miles away.

5hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph38 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph59 mi
Jul 7, 1896UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph65 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 85 mph54 mi
Sep 29, 1917UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 17, 2021FredTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 16, 2020SallyTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalCategory 1, 85 mph54 mi
Oct 31, 1985JuanTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 2, 105 mph38 mi
Jun 15, 1965UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph58 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
5.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Pike County

$157,600median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.7%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; 16,238 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
Montgomery CountyModerate22
Coffee CountyModerate28
Dale CountyLow31
Barbour CountyLow26
Crenshaw CountyVery Low27
Bullock CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $4.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 50th 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 19, 1974. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 15 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pike County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pike 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.