riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Marengo County Disaster Risk

Marengo County, Alabama

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

52th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#43

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

51th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% 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 77% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Marengo County

Risk Verdict

Marengo County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 52th 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 Marengo County, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 77th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (73th), flood (51th), wildfire (39th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Marengo 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 hurricane 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

Marengo County is notably safer than the average county in Alabama. Its composite risk score is 9.4 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 Marengo County, AL?
Marengo County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 52th 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 Marengo County?
Marengo County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (79th percentile), hurricane (77th percentile), earthquake (73th percentile), flooding (51th percentile), wildfire (39th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 79th 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 Marengo County risk compare to the Alabama average?
Marengo County's composite risk percentile is 52th, compared to the Alabama state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Marengo County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alabama.
Is Marengo County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Marengo County's tornado risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Marengo County is at the 51th 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 Marengo County a safe place to live?
Marengo County's composite risk score of 52th 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 tornado at the 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sumter County

Alabama

+0.9

Relatively Low

53th percentile

Geneva County

Alabama

+1.2

Relatively Low

53th percentile

Clarke County

Alabama

+1.2

Relatively Low

53th 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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