Alabama natural disasters & FEMA declarations
AL · 14th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Alabama has had 102 federally declared disasters since 1961, the 14th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (45 declarations, about 44% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Hurricane Helene" (Hurricane), on Sep 26, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Alabama, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 45 | 44% |
| Hurricane | 25 | 25% |
| Flood | 10 | 10% |
| Fire | 9 | 9% |
| Tornado | 7 | 7% |
| Biological | 4 | 4% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 75 |
| Emergency (EM) | 18 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 9 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Alabama's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 22 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | EM-3618-AL |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4710-AL |
| Jan 15, 2023 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4684-AL |
| Dec 21, 2021 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4632-AL |
| Apr 26, 2021 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4596-AL |
| Mar 28, 2021 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4591-AL |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Alabama
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Alabama in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Alabama had?
Alabama has had 102 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1961, the 14th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Alabama?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Alabama is "Severe Storm", with 45 declarations — about 44% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Alabama?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Alabama in this snapshot was "Hurricane Helene" (Hurricane), declared Sep 26, 2024.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18