riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Blount County Disaster Risk

Blount County, Alabama

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

68th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#31

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

69th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Blount County

Risk Verdict

Blount County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 68th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Blount County, scoring in the 92th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 73th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (69th), wildfire (65th), hurricane (63th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Blount County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Blount County is significantly riskier than the average county in Alabama. Its composite risk score is 6.9 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Blount County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Blount County, AL?
Blount County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 68th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Blount County?
Blount County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (92th percentile), earthquake (73th percentile), flooding (69th percentile), wildfire (65th percentile), hurricane (63th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 92th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Blount County risk compare to the Alabama average?
Blount County's composite risk percentile is 68th, compared to the Alabama state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Blount County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alabama.
Is Blount County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Blount County's tornado risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Blount County is at the 69th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Blount County higher risk than average?
Blount County's composite risk score of 68th percentile is above the Alabama state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by tornado exposure (92th percentile), along with earthquake and flooding and wildfire and hurricane risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Marion County

Alabama

+0.7

Relatively Low

69th percentile

Dale County

Alabama

-0.7

Relatively Low

68th percentile

Franklin County

Alabama

-0.8

Relatively Low

68th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Blount County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score