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Randolph County, Alabama

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 67highest risk in Alabama
$8Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Randolph County, Alabama has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 67 counties in Alabama. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $360 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Hurricane Helene). Only 15 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 Randolph County

$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1.5 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.
$614,328 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow42.0
$4M
TornadoLow62.6
$2M
Cold waveLow44.3
$614K
HurricaneLow71.9
$565K
Heat waveLow45.4
$234K
Strong windLow25.4
$192K
EarthquakeVery Low46.6
$183K
HailLow40.9
$146K
WildfireLow63.8
$89K
LightningLow28.7
$82K
DroughtLow42.5
$67K
Ice stormLow31.2
$27K
Winter weatherVery Low7.3
$4K
LandslideLow65.1
$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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Randolph County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Hurricane9
Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergency
May 5, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
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
Show all 23
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
May 12, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1994Severe Storms and Flooding (Tropical Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1979FloodingEmergency
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1970

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 314 storm reports in Randolph County since 1970, with 3 deaths and 16 injuries and about $10 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on January 26, 1974.

22tornadoes
100hail reports, largest 4 inches
159damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 26, 1974F3–7 / 1
Mar 5, 1989F2–0 / 0
May 3, 1984F2–0 / 0
Apr 26, 1970F2–2 / 0
Mar 25, 2021EF2Almond0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 5, 1989Tornado–$3M
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$3M
May 2, 2003Thunderstorm WindWedowee$800K
Mar 8, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$530K
Jul 22, 2008Thunderstorm WindDingler$300K
Jan 26, 1974Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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, 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Randolph County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with top winds near 80 mph about 54 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 65 mph48 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Oct 3, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Oct 3, 1898UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 65 mph48 mi
Oct 5, 1995OpalTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Aug 15, 1928UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Jul 8, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 4, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 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 Randolph County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
8.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15,829paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $15,829 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 Randolph County

$181,600median home value (Alabama $209,900, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Alabama 1986, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.2%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; 12,505 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
Carroll County, GALow21
Troup County, GALow13
Tallapoosa CountyLow18
Chambers CountyLow21
Cleburne CountyVery Low20
Clay CountyVery Low22
Heard County, GAVery Low18

Common questions about Randolph County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Randolph County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Randolph County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Randolph County had?

Randolph County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Is Randolph County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Randolph County?

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

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Randolph County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on January 26, 1974. The weather service has also logged 100 hail reports and 23 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Randolph County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Randolph County. The strongest was Hurricane Eloise (1975), with winds near 80 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.