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Escambia County, Alabama
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Escambia County, Alabama, has 365 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950, most of them damaging wind.
That is 38.6 events per 100 square miles, below the Alabama figure of 87.3, and 99.5 per 10,000 residents against 87.8 statewide.
1 event fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 4 deaths and 39 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $16M.
FEMA has designated the county in 27 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Hurricane Helene (emergency, 26 Sep 2024).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 384 claims since 1978, of which 305 were paid, totalling $14M (about $45K per paid claim). FEMA counts 86 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Moderate" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($36M a year across 18 hazards).
84 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 7 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Alabama and the United States
| Measure | Escambia County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 365 | 44,232 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 38.6 | 87.3 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 99.5 | 87.8 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 1 | 1,348 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 4 | 941 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $16M | $12B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 10.5 | 8.9 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $45K | $34K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 57.0 | 21.5 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 188 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 136 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1998 | Heat | Heat | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 1999 | Heat | Heat | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 2009 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2022 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2021 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $3.2M | — | — | 20 | County |
| 18 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | 10 | County |
| 15 Dec 1972 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 12 Mar 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 104 mph | $1.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Dec 1961 | Tornado | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Nov 1983 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 52 mph | $20K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Aug 2007 | Heat | Heat | — | — | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $2.6M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 1998 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2009 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.3M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 2016 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 2008 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $700K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Hurricane (Typhoon) | Tropical | — | $400K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 2024 | EM-3618 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene | Public assistance |
| 20 Sep 2020 | DR-4563 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 14 Sep 2020 | EM-3545 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally | Public assistance |
| 29 Mar 2020 | DR-4503 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3472 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 12 Oct 2018 | EM-3407 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael | Public assistance |
| 8 Oct 2017 | EM-3394 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate | Public assistance |
| 11 Sep 2017 | EM-3389 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma | Public assistance |
| 21 Jan 2016 | DR-4251 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 28 Apr 2011 | DR-1971 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 27 Apr 2011 | EM-3319 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds | Public assistance |
| 31 Dec 2009 | DR-1870 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 30 Aug 2008 | EM-3292 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav | Public assistance |
| 10 Sep 2005 | EM-3237 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 10 Jul 2005 | DR-1593 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 15 Sep 2004 | DR-1549 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 12 May 2003 | DR-1466 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 30 Sep 1998 | DR-1250 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Georges - 18 Sep 98 | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 28 Sep 1998 | EM-3133 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Georges | Public assistance |
| 9 Mar 1998 | DR-1208 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 4 Oct 1995 | DR-1070 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 15 Mar 1993 | EM-3096 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 21 Mar 1990 | DR-861 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Sep 1979 | DR-598 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Frederic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 20 Jul 1977 | EM-3045 | Emergency | Drought | Drought | Public assistance |
| 23 Apr 1975 | DR-464 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 27 Mar 1973 | DR-369 | Major disaster | Tornado | Tornadoes & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | $160,465 | $40,116 |
| 2021 | 4 | 2 | $843,199 | $421,600 |
| 2020 | 39 | 15 | $1,803,300 | $120,220 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | $1,578 | $789 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | $16,763 | $16,763 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | $27,562 | $9,187 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 | $2,005 | $2,005 |
| 2009 | 78 | 63 | $3,190,638 | $50,645 |
| 2008 | 5 | 3 | $38,555 | $12,852 |
| 2004 | 21 | 13 | $322,363 | $24,797 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | $10,131 | $5,066 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1998 | 126 | 117 | $6,136,190 | $52,446 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 2 | $3,151 | $1,575 |
| 1995 | 20 | 13 | $182,340 | $14,026 |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 | $3,485 | $3,485 |
| 1993 | 1 | 1 | $1,532 | $1,532 |
| 1990 | 30 | 29 | $790,305 | $27,252 |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 | $2,463 | $2,463 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 | $451 | $451 |
| 1986 | 2 | 2 | $5,703 | $2,852 |
| 1985 | 4 | 4 | $8,799 | $2,200 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 | $2,307 | $2,307 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | $20,825,508 | |
| Inland flooding | $7,662,266 | |
| Tornado | $3,022,189 | |
| Lightning | $1,493,429 | |
| Heat wave | $1,232,272 | |
| Strong wind | $715,441 | |
| Cold wave | $506,842 | |
| Earthquake | $255,384 | |
| Drought | $238,737 | |
| Wildfire | $153,692 | |
| Hail | $66,924 | |
| Winter weather | $18,807 | |
| Ice storm | $2,508 | |
| Landslide | $552 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sally | 2020 | 2 mi | 109 mph |
| Alberto | 2018 | 90 mi | 46 mph |
| Gordon | 2018 | 93 mi | 69 mph |
| Nate | 2017 | 89 mi | 40 mph |
| Lee | 2011 | 72 mi | 46 mph |
| Claudette | 2009 | 55 mi | 46 mph |
| Ida | 2009 | 75 mi | 52 mph |
| Fay | 2008 | 87 mi | 46 mph |
| Arlene | 2005 | 60 mi | 58 mph |
| Dennis | 2005 | 41 mi | 127 mph |
| Ivan | 2004 | 37 mi | 121 mph |
| Hanna | 2002 | 89 mi | 58 mph |
| Allison | 2001 | 73 mi | 40 mph |
| Barry | 2001 | 58 mi | 69 mph |
| Helene | 2000 | 55 mi | 40 mph |
| Georges | 1998 | 81 mi | 46 mph |
| Danny | 1997 | 39 mi | 81 mph |
| Erin | 1995 | 41 mi | 98 mph |
| Opal | 1995 | 23 mi | 115 mph |
| Alberto | 1994 | 59 mi | 63 mph |
| Elena | 1985 | 99 mi | 121 mph |
| Juan | 1985 | 48 mi | 63 mph |
| Frederic | 1979 | 82 mi | 109 mph |
| Eloise | 1975 | 82 mi | 127 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1969 | 31 mi | 46 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Escambia County, AL?
NCEI records 69 hail events in Escambia County since 1950, in 30 different years; that is about 0.9 recorded events a year. 19 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Escambia County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 30 tornadoes in Escambia County since 1950, 10 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Escambia County?
26 Sep 2024: Hurricane Helene, a emergency declaration for hurricane. The county appears in 27 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Escambia County, and how much was paid?
384 NFIP claims since 1978, 305 of them paid, for $14M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Escambia County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Moderate" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Very High" for social vulnerability and "Relatively Low" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Escambia County compare with the rest of Alabama?
38.6 recorded events per 100 square miles against 87.3 statewide, and 10.5 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 8.9. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.