Natural Disasters in Helena, AL

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

90.3

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

91.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

16.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

74.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Tornado98.3Landslide92.9Lightning91.6

Hazard	Risk Score
Tornado	98.3
Landslide	92.9
Lightning	91.6
Heat Wave	88.6
Cold Wave	86.5
Earthquake	84.5
Strong Wind	78.5
Wildfire	74.3
Hurricane	66.0
Ice Storm	64.0
Hail	55.3
Drought	49.1
Winter Weather	29.6

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Hurricane

Sep 2024

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

18 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Sep 26, 2024	Hurricane	HURRICANE HELENE
Dec 21, 2021	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 26, 2021	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
Sep 14, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE SALLY
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Oct 8, 2017	Hurricane	HURRICANE NATE
Sep 11, 2017	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRMA
May 2, 2014	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Feb 1, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 28, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 27, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
May 8, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Aug 30, 2008	Hurricane	HURRICANE GUSTAV
Mar 3, 2007	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Aug 29, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA
Jul 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE DENNIS
Sep 15, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
May 12, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Nov 14, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES

Showing 20 of 38 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

4,341

Total IA Distributed

$6,420,543

Repair/Replace

$2,205,744

Rental Assistance

$1,047,892

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4052	4	N/A	—
DR-1687	1	N/A	—
DR-4503	395	$2,196,922	—
DR-1549	1,495	$1,687,785	$953
DR-4632	520	$1,479,948	$2,072
DR-4176	964	$539,640	$835
DR-1971	782	$291,093	$790
DR-1466	82	$140,733	$1,874
DR-4596	91	$68,283	$1,576
DR-1442	7	$16,140	$45,345

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,880

Total Claims Paid

$47,400,531

Avg Claim Payout

$16,459

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$62,251,359

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

733

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1971	Severe Storm(s)	239	$33,507,810
DR-1549	Hurricane	100	$6,550,551
DR-4176	Severe Storm(s)	39	$6,092,040
DR-4503	Biological	10	$5,089,641
DR-1466	Severe Storm(s)	141	$3,362,030
DR-1362	Severe Storm(s)	98	$3,172,185
DR-1605	Hurricane	44	$2,516,214
DR-1593	Hurricane	28	$1,114,666
DR-1836	Severe Storm(s)	32	$826,811
DR-4251	Severe Storm(s)	1	$15,349
DR-3389	Hurricane	1	$4,061

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$23,984,771

Properties Protected

705

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

4.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	16	$835,928
206.1: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Private Structures	15	$523,937
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	14	$657,011
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	8	$18,888,570
95.1: FMA or CRS Plan	5	$50,000

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Helena has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, landslide, lightning. The area has had 38 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (18 declarations). 2,880 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $62,251,359 in public assistance recovery funding. $6,420,543 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 65 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.