riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lowndes County Disaster Risk

Lowndes County, Alabama

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

29th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#61

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

32th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lowndes County

Risk Verdict

Lowndes County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 29th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Lowndes County, scoring in the 71th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 67th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (50th), flood (32th), wildfire (31th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Lowndes County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as tornado 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

Lowndes County is notably safer than the average county in Alabama. Its composite risk score is 32.5 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lowndes County, AL?
Lowndes County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 29th 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 Lowndes County?
Lowndes County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (71th percentile), tornado (67th percentile), earthquake (50th percentile), flooding (32th percentile), wildfire (31th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 71th 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 Lowndes County risk compare to the Alabama average?
Lowndes County's composite risk percentile is 29th, compared to the Alabama state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Lowndes County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alabama.
Is Lowndes County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Lowndes County's hurricane risk is at the 71th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Lowndes County is at the 32th 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.
Is Lowndes County a safe place to live?
Lowndes County's composite risk score of 29th percentile is below the Alabama state average of 62th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 71th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Greene County

Alabama

+0.2

Very Low

29th percentile

Randolph County

Alabama

+1.5

Very Low

31th percentile

Cleburne County

Alabama

-1.6

Very Low

27th 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.

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