Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Washington County, AL

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
01129
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2026-05-10. Plan: Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492), approved 2021-05-11.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-05-11: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 35 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Hurricane ($3,594,079 a year), Inland Flooding ($3,394,992) and Tornado ($1,661,286).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2026-05-10
Plan:
Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)
Approved:
2021-05-11
Days since expiry:
143
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-05-11)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3618-AL (Hurricane Helene)
Storm Events records since approval:
35 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 1
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
Washington County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedExpired on 2026-05-10Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)2021-05-112026-05-10-143this jurisdiction approved 2023-05-10
Chatom townTownExpired on 2026-05-10Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)2021-05-112026-05-10-143this jurisdiction approved 2023-06-06
McIntosh townTownExpired on 2026-05-10Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)2021-05-112026-05-10-143
Millry townTownExpired on 2026-05-10Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)2021-05-112026-05-10-143this jurisdiction approved 2023-06-22
Washington County School DistrictSchool/School DistrictExpired on 2026-05-10Division A, Phase 3 (FEMA plan 108492)2021-05-112026-05-10-143

Plan 108492 lists 6 other participants: Beatrice town (Monroe County); Excel town (Monroe County); Frisco City town (Monroe County); Monroe County (unincorporated area); Monroeville city (Monroe County); Vredenburgh town (Monroe County).

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1HurricaneRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$3,219,721$261,619$112,739$3,594,0797
2Inland FloodingRelatively LowVery Low$3,391,476$277$3,238$3,394,99224
3TornadoRelatively ModerateRelatively Low$489,038$4,177$1,168,072$1,661,28624
4Strong WindRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$290,612$4,244$300,102$594,958127Includes 1 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
5Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$5,340$34,703$521,138$561,1800No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
6Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$15$88$315,292$315,3952
7LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$16,082n/a$185,244$201,32711
8EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$104,245n/a$62,830$167,075Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
9WildfireRelatively LowRelatively Low$74,394$147$19,289$93,8300Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
10HailVery LowVery Low$69,135$1,241$18,895$89,27075
11DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$79,545n/a$79,5453
12Winter WeatherVery LowRelatively Low$1,535$60$10,952$12,54711Includes 2 Sleet records (outside NRI's Winter Weather definition).
13Ice StormVery LowVery Low$8,359n/a$3,476$11,8350No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14Coastal FloodingVery LowVery Low$390n/a$107$4970No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15LandslideVery LowVery Low$261n/a$28$2890No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 440 (Relatively Low, 69.4); tract 439 (Relatively Low, 61.2); tract 441 (Relatively Low, 52.1)
Hurricanetract 440 (Relatively High, 95.8); tract 442 (Relatively High, 94.3); tract 441 (Relatively High, 93.8)
Landslidetract 440 (Relatively Low, 84.3); tract 439 (Very Low, 80.2); tract 441 (Very Low, 75.4)
Tornadotract 440 (Very High, 96.6); tract 439 (Relatively High, 92.7); tract 443 (Relatively High, 90.9)
Wildfiretract 442 (Relatively Moderate, 91.3); tract 443 (Relatively Moderate, 90.3); tract 440 (Relatively Low, 87.8)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 440 is Census Tract 440). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)0Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill0
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)3 records, 2016 (3 zone-level)92 days; 1 with a recorded value92 days (3 months), 2016-10-01 to 2016-12-31, a run of 3 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)90 records, 1957 to 20250.75 in to 2.75 in (median 1 in); 90 with a recorded value2.75 in hail, 1998-04-17Hail, 2003-05-02, $1,400,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Millry town (10 records), Chatom town (9 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)2 records, 2000 to 2007 (2 zone-level)7 days to 31 days (median 19 days); 2 with a recorded valueJuly 2000 (1 monthly summary record), zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson7 records, 1998 to 2020 (7 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Hurricane record (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)'), 1998-09-25 to 1998-09-29, $100,000 property; crops not reported (1998 dollars); NWS zone ALZ052Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)0
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)24 records, 1997 to 2022Flash Flood, 2017-01-02, $1,200,000 property; $0 crops (2017 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Millry town (3 records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)11 records, 1996 to 2024Lightning, 2004-02-06, $50,000 property; crops not reported (2004 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chatom town (5 records), Millry town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)2 records, 2016 to 2024 (2 zone-level)30 kt (35 mph) to 52 kt (60 mph) (median 41 kt (47 mph)); 2 with a recorded value52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2024-09-12; NWS zone ALZ052Strong Wind, 2016-02-15, $5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2016 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)156 records, 1968 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 80 kt (92 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 125 with a recorded value80 kt (92 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1998-06-05; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 1998-04-17Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chatom town (18 records), Millry town (13 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)33 records, 1969 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF1); 33 with a recorded valueEF3 tornado, 2011-04-15, 5.93 mi within this county, 400 yd wide, $2,000,000 property; crops not reported (2011 dollars), 3 direct deaths, 3 direct injuriesTornado, 2009-01-10, $2,500,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Millry town (2 records).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)11 records, 2000 to 2025 (11 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2000-12-21, $15,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars); NWS zone ALZ052Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

A monthly summary record covers most or all of a month; it does not count days at wave conditions.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 27 declarations covering 20 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2024-09-262024-09-22EM-3618-ALEmergencyHurricane HeleneHurricane (primary); also designated: Tornadono Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-12-102020-10-28DR-4573-ALMajor disasterHurricane ZetaHurricane$2,943,430.13in the 12 months before plan approval
2020-09-142020-09-14EM-3545-ALEmergencyHurricane SallyHurricane$4,066.25in the 12 months before plan approval
2020-03-292020-01-20DR-4503-ALMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3472-ALEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4503
2017-11-162017-10-06DR-4349-ALMajor disasterHurricane NateHurricane$12,634.14
2017-10-082017-10-06EM-3394-ALEmergencyHurricane NateHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4349
2017-09-112017-09-08EM-3389-ALEmergencyHurricane IrmaHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2014-05-022014-04-28DR-4176-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$15,864.46
2011-04-282011-04-15DR-1971-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$17,035.79
2011-04-272011-04-27EM-3319-ALEmergencySevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsStrong Wind; Tornadono Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1971
2009-04-282009-03-25DR-1835-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-LineInland Flooding; Tornado$329,472.35
2008-08-302008-08-29EM-3292-ALEmergencyHurricane GustavHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3237-ALEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1605
2005-08-292005-08-29DR-1605-ALMajor disasterHurricane KatrinaHurricane$693,869.75
2005-08-282005-08-28EM-3214-ALEmergencyHurricane KatrinaHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1605
2005-07-102005-07-10DR-1593-ALMajor disasterHurricane DennisHurricane$126,514.98
2004-09-152004-09-13DR-1549-ALMajor disasterHurricane IvanHurricane$287,607.11
2003-05-122003-05-05DR-1466-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
1999-09-181999-09-17FM-2280-ALFire managementAl - Macintosh Fire - 09/18/99Wildfireno Public Assistance recorded
1998-09-301998-09-25DR-1250-ALMajor disasterHurricane Georges - 18 Sep 98Hurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
1998-09-281998-09-28EM-3133-ALEmergencyHurricane GeorgesHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1250
1993-03-151993-03-13EM-3096-ALEmergencySevere Snowfall, Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1990-03-211990-03-15DR-861-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingInland Flooding; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
1979-09-131979-09-13DR-598-ALMajor disasterHurricane FredericHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
1977-07-201977-07-20EM-3045-ALEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1975-03-141975-03-14DR-458-ALMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1961-02-271961-02-27DR-109-ALMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Cold Wave0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Drought3000101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail90707001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane70101111996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Inland Flooding24101601996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning11101001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind15821721201955 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records.
Tornado33404611950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000101996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Winter Weather11101101996 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 Sleet records.

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-09-12High Wind52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone ALZ052 (WASHINGTON), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2017-01-02Flash Flood$1,200,000 property; $0 crops (2017 dollars)0, 0LEROY to ST STEPHENSB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2016-10-01Drought$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2016 dollars)0, 0NWS zone ALZ052 (WASHINGTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2011-04-15TornadoEF2, 0.9 mi within this county, 150 yd wide$50,000 property; crops not reported (2011 dollars)0, 1YARBOdeaths or injuries recorded
2011-04-15TornadoEF3, 5.93 mi within this county, 400 yd wide$2,000,000 property; crops not reported (2011 dollars)3, 3ESCATAWPA to DEER PARKdeaths or injuries recorded
2004-02-06Lightning$50,000 property; crops not reported (2004 dollars)0, 0CHATOMB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2001-03-12Thunderstorm Wind75 kt (86 mph) estimated$1,000,000 property; crops not reported (2001 dollars)0, 6MC INTOSHdeaths or injuries recorded
2000-12-21Winter Storm$15,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2000 dollars)0, 0NWS zone ALZ052 (WASHINGTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2000-07-01Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone ALZ052 (WASHINGTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
1998-09-25Hurricane (NOAA event type 'Hurricane (Typhoon)')$100,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1998 dollars)0, 0NWS zone ALZ052 (WASHINGTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
1998-06-05Thunderstorm Wind80 kt (92 mph), measurement type not recorded$1,500,000 property; crops not reported (1998 dollars)0, 0COUNTYWIDEB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1998-04-17Hail2.75 in$50,000 property; $20,000 crops (1998 dollars)0, 0DEER PARK to FRUITDALEB1-c worst recorded: Hail

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (339 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding0.01events per year at a location (modeled)about 0.01 per year at a given location in the countyStorm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Cold Wave1.11event-days per yearabout 1.11 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)21.12005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNo Storm Events cold wave record, 1996 to 2025.
Drought13.6event-days per yearabout 13.6 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)4412000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00133annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.133%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.33events per yearabout 2.33 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)88.3 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave8.67event-days per yearabout 8.67 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)1402005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.209events per yearabout 1 in 5 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)721851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.445event-days per yearabout 0.445 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)301946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo Storm Events ice storm record, 1996 to 2025
Inland Flooding0.786event-days per yearabout 0.786 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 13 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (43.3%)221996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.294events per year (modeled)about 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning79.8days per year with a strikeabout 79.8 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind2.39events per yearabout 2.39 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)911986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.836events per yearabout 0.84 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.00239annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.239%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather1.32event-days per yearabout 1.32 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)25.12005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202536301.2
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20254300.133
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025120304
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20255300.167
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202519300.633
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20255300.167
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding2 of 572.974.676.2Very Low 2, No Rating 3
Cold Wave5 of 571.974.480.2Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 4
Drought5 of 572.682.494.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 3, Very Low 1
Earthquake5 of 545.652.169.4Relatively Low 5
Hail5 of 563.969.278.0Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 3
Heat Wave5 of 567.671.179.1Relatively Moderate 5
Hurricane5 of 592.693.895.8Relatively High 5
Ice Storm5 of 530.234.544.0Relatively Low 4, Very Low 1
Inland Flooding5 of 547.073.978.9Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 1
Landslide5 of 571.775.484.3Relatively Low 1, Very Low 4
Lightning5 of 588.390.995.1Relatively High 5
Strong Wind5 of 592.694.697.6Very High 1, Relatively High 4
Tornado5 of 585.690.996.6Very High 1, Relatively High 4
Wildfire5 of 583.987.891.3Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 3
Winter Weather5 of 550.852.660.8Relatively Moderate 5

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Washington County (unincorporated area)UnincorporatedExpired on 2026-05-10FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$4,141,218.790 total; 0 since its plan
Chatom townTownExpired on 2026-05-10FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$91,108.1432 total; 3 since its plan
McIntosh townTownExpired on 2026-05-10FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$34,714.610 total; 0 since its plan
Millry townTownExpired on 2026-05-10FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$13,173.5029 total; 1 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2021-05-11county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$35,598,848n/a255$390n/a$1070.0011%
Cold Wave$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$5,340$34,703$521,1380.000207%
Droughtn/a$7,044,828n/an/a$79,545n/a1.13% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$4,353,116,905n/a15,388$104,245n/a$62,8300.00239%
Hail$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$69,135$1,241$18,8950.00268%$0
Heat Wave$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$15$88$315,292under 0.0001%
Hurricane$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$3,219,721$261,619$112,7390.125%no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)
Ice Storm$2,568,979,285n/a15,255$8,359n/a$3,4760.000325%
Inland Flooding$2,579,487,118$1,415,130426$3,391,476$277$3,238n/a (see note)$0NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$16,266,048n/a108$261n/a$280.0016%
Lightning$2,580,264,110n/a15,333$16,082n/a$185,2440.000623%$10,000
Strong Wind$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$290,612$4,244$300,1020.0113%$0$0
Tornado$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$489,038$4,177$1,168,0720.019%no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)
Wildfire$321,118,455$8,812,6024,829$74,394$147$19,2890.0232%
Winter Weather$2,580,264,110$40,258,40415,333$1,535$60$10,952under 0.0001%$0

Totals since 2021-05-11 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 33 county-coded records, 28 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $10,000; 2 zone-level records, 2 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 1 counted declaration.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population15,333
Building value (total, not at risk)$2,580,264,110
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$40,258,404
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$8,056,705
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$2,721,401
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0010100
of which: Washington County (unincorporated area)0010100
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0030300

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Washington County (unincorporated area)0103020010100
Chatom town0103760000000
McIntosh town0105250000000
Millry town0102070000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0010100
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 1 property is NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Washington County, AL: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 01129). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/al/01129/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]