Natural Disasters in Tuscaloosa, AL

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

90.8

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

89.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

55.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

71.9

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Tornado97.5Heat Wave95.6Strong Wind94.5

Hazard	Risk Score
Tornado	97.5
Heat Wave	95.6
Strong Wind	94.5
Earthquake	92.6
Lightning	88.1
Cold Wave	83.9
Hurricane	81.1
Ice Storm	75.6
Hail	72.5
Landslide	67.5
Wildfire	57.1
Winter Weather	50.6
Drought	43.2

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

11 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Sep 26, 2024	Hurricane	HURRICANE HELENE
Sep 14, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE SALLY
May 21, 2020	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 29, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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
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
Aug 30, 2008	Hurricane	HURRICANE GUSTAV
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
Mar 5, 2001	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Dec 18, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Mar 17, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 28 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

12,919

Total IA Distributed

$19,538,649

Repair/Replace

$3,262,370

Rental Assistance

$5,653,024

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4277	1	N/A	—
DR-4596	1	N/A	—
DR-4563	1	N/A	—
DR-4528	1	N/A	—
DR-1971	11,089	$15,177,394	$8,663
DR-4503	668	$3,684,133	—
DR-1605	560	$315,437	$1,057
DR-1549	261	$170,568	$638
DR-4176	315	$110,496	$557
DR-1466	15	$55,301	$3,429

Showing top 10 of 11 disasters by IA amount

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

298

Total Claims Paid

$3,383,783

Avg Claim Payout

$11,355

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$25,701,618

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

330

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1971	Severe Storm(s)	203	$17,514,889
DR-4546	Severe Storm(s)	16	$2,816,796
DR-4176	Severe Storm(s)	19	$2,269,995
DR-1605	Hurricane	22	$1,526,150
DR-1352	Severe Storm(s)	28	$645,073
DR-1549	Hurricane	23	$483,582
DR-1593	Hurricane	13	$156,887
DR-1362	Severe Storm(s)	4	$155,116
DR-4503	Biological	2	$133,129

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$31,949,233

Properties Protected

967

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.34

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	32	$20,931,262
206.1: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Private Structures	25	$1,217,892
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	10	$346,065
103.1: Feasibility, Engineering and Design Studies; 501.1: Other Major Structural Projects	2	$6,000,000
904.1: Advanced Assistance	2	$162,199

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

Tuscaloosa has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, heat wave, strong wind. The area has had 28 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (11 declarations). 298 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $25,701,618 in public assistance recovery funding. $19,538,649 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 76 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.