Chambers County, Alabama

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 01017 · population 34,738 · 597 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 376 records for Chambers County, Alabama from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 293 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (131 records). The deadliest single record is the March 19, 1970 tornado: 2 deaths and 14 injuries. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1970, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 26, 2024.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
376on 293 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
419 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$20Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
27strongest EF3
FEMA declarations
23latest 2024

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Chambers County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 131 since 1965. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Alabama's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Chambers County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 131 106 1965-2026 0 0 $1.8M 41 of 67
Hail 86 59 1973-2023 0 0 $188K 33 of 67
Drought 69 67 2006-2026 0 0 – 4 of 67
Tornadoes 27 23 1970-2025 2 16 $13M 48 of 67
Floods 23 22 1996-2023 0 0 $4.5M 33 of 67
Winter storms 16 16 1996-2025 0 0 $286K 24 of 67
Extreme cold 6 6 1996-2014 0 0 – 22 of 67
Heat 6 6 1996-2023 2 2 – 43 of 67
Hurricanes and tropical storms 6 6 2005-2020 0 0 $53K 19 of 67
High wind and dust storms 5 5 2004-2024 0 1 $538K 40 of 67
Lightning 1 1 2023-2023 0 0 $97K 52 of 67

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Chambers County had?

NOAA records 27 tornadoes in Chambers County from 1970 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 2 deaths and 16 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 25 tornadoes whose track touched Chambers County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 27: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 11 people, 2 of them in Chambers County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Chambers County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2011-04-27 19:12, as SPC files itDadevilleEF444.18 mi7
1970-03-19 23:08, as SPC files itValleyF32 mi2
2012-03-02 22:40, as SPC files itAlexanderEF234.04 mi1
1989-03-05 19:40, as SPC files itFranklinCrossed AL, GAF245.5 mi1

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.

Every tornado record filed for Chambers County (27)
Every tornado recorded in Chambers County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-03-15 Danway, Chambers County EF0 3.8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 Chapel Hill, Chambers County EF2 12.62 mi x 1,600 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 Fordyce, Chambers County EF1 8.21 mi x 1,300 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-03 Happyland, Chambers County EF0 4.4 mi x 500 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 Blackman, Chambers County EF0 0.44 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2020-10-10 Buffalo, Chambers County EF0 0.67 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2018-11-01 Cusseta, Chambers County EF0 2.13 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2018-11-01 Cusseta, Chambers County EF0 0.48 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2017-04-05 Besworth, Chambers County EF1 1.96 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2016-11-30 Waverly, Chambers County EF1 0.52 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2012-03-02 Fordyce, Chambers County EF2 11.41 mi x 1,000 yd 0 2 –
2011-04-27 Five Pts, Chambers County EF1 5.01 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $13K
2011-04-27 Buffalo, Chambers County EF1 5.24 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $7K
2011-04-27 Judson, Chambers County EF3 4.77 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $2.6M
2011-02-28 White Plains, Chambers County EF0 1.91 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $59K
2006-11-15 Lafayette, Chambers County F0 0.21 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $73K
2005-07-06 Lafayette, Chambers County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2005-04-30 Milltown, Chambers County F1 1 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $5K
1995-04-11 Chambers County F0 1.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $81K
1994-03-24 Lafayette, Chambers County F1 12 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $1.1M
1989-03-05 Chambers County F2 15 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1984-04-22 Chambers County F1 10 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $25K step
1974-04-02 Chambers County F2 0 0 $25K step
1973-11-21 Chambers County F1 0 0 $25K step
1972-01-10 Chambers County F2 4.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1971-02-26 Chambers County F1 7.3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1970-03-19 Chambers County F3 2 mi x 200 yd 2 14 $250K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Chambers County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 9, 2024 strong wind (1 injury).

Several trees were blown down across roadways around the Lafayette, Lanett, and Valley areas. Near Valley, a motorist drove into a downed tree, resulting in minor injuries.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1152198)
The 12 most recent records kept for Chambers County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindFairfax, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-22 Thunderstorm WindCusseta, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 Thunderstorm WindLafayette, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 Thunderstorm WindHappyland, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 DroughtChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 0 0 –
2026-03-16 Thunderstorm WindLanett, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-16 Thunderstorm WindLafayette, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-16 Thunderstorm WindFive Pts, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-12 Thunderstorm WindCusseta, Chambers County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-01 DroughtChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Chambers County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1970-03-19 TornadoChambers County F3 2 mi x 200 yd 2 14 $250K step
2007-08-08 HeatChambers County · forecast zone Chambers A large ridge of high pressure, combined with very dry ground from the recent drought, combined to produce the hottest month on record across Central Alabama in the month of August. The core of the heat wave started around August 4th, when the temepartures first topped the 100 degree mark in several cities. The heat ... 1 2 –
1999-07-30 HeatChambers County · forecast zone Chambers An 84 year old woman was found dead in her home in Lafayette. The coroner determined that the death was heat related. The home was furnished with air conditioning but was apparently not operating. The afternoon temperatures were in the upper 90s with heat indices near 110 degrees. 1 0 –
2012-03-02 TornadoFordyce, Chambers County A tornado initially touched down west of Highway 62 in western Tallapoosa County. The tornado moved along a northeastern path in eastern Tallapoosa County and then moved into Chambers County. It maintained a half mile wide path as it crossed County 55 near Sandy Creek, with winds as strong as 120 mph. Thousands of ... EF2 11.41 mi x 1,000 yd 0 2 –
2024-01-09 Strong WindChambers County · forecast zone Chambers Several trees were blown down across roadways around the Lafayette, Lanett, and Valley areas. Near Valley, a motorist drove into a downed tree, resulting in minor injuries. 35 kt wind 0 1 $941

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

The costliest records in Chambers County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2003-05-07 FloodChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 0 0 $4.3M
1994-03-24 TornadoLafayette, Chambers County F1 12 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $1.1M
1994-09-17 Thunderstorm WindLafayette, Chambers County 0 0 $995K
2004-09-16 High WindChambers County · forecast zone Chambers 52 kt wind 0 0 $531K
1995-04-11 TornadoChambers County F0 1.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $81K
2011-02-28 TornadoWhite Plains, Chambers County EF0 1.91 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $59K
2011-04-27 TornadoBuffalo, Chambers County EF1 5.24 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $7K
2005-04-30 TornadoMilltown, Chambers County F1 1 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $5K

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 5, 1989 (tornado, Chambers County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Chambers County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Chambers County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0271520222837
Hail00162036167
Drought––––021426
Tornadoes00522396
Floods––––31055
Winter storms––––3661

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 31 · Feb 30 · Mar 45 · Apr 56 · May 34 · Jun 55 · Jul 47 · Aug 21 · Sep 16 · Oct 12 · Nov 14 · Dec 15 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Chambers County

FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Chambers County: 14 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and hurricane (8).

Declarations including Chambers County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-09-26EM-3618HurricaneHurricane Helene
2023-05-05DR-4710Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2023-01-15DR-4684Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2020-09-14EM-3545HurricaneHurricane Sally
2020-05-21DR-4546Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2020-03-29DR-4503BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3472BiologicalCovid-19
2017-09-11EM-3389HurricaneHurricane Irma
2016-01-21DR-4251Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2011-04-28DR-1971Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2011-04-27EM-3319Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
2008-08-30EM-3292HurricaneHurricane Gustav
2005-09-10EM-3237HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-07-10DR-1593HurricaneHurricane Dennis
2004-09-15DR-1549HurricaneHurricane Ivan
2003-05-12DR-1466Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
1995-10-04DR-1070HurricaneHurricane Opal
1993-03-15EM-3096SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1990-03-21DR-861Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1979-04-18DR-578FloodStorms, Wind, Flooding
1977-07-20EM-3045DroughtDrought
1975-10-02DR-488Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1970-04-09DR-285Severe StormHeavy Rains, Tornadoes & Flooding

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Chambers County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Chambers County from 1996 to 2023, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chambers County ranks 2020th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $921,000 on 24 claims filed in Chambers County; the most in one year was 9 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2003: 9 · 2005: 2 · 2009: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2023: 3; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Chambers County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chambers County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Chambers County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$1.3M5.2 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.7Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$228K64 a year (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Low$439Konce in about 11 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$6.0Mabout once a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Low$37Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$125K3.6 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$43K54 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Chambers County

  1. Troup County, GA 565
  2. Lee County 553
  3. Tallapoosa County 546
  4. Harris County, GA 508
  5. Randolph County 424
  6. Chambers County 376

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

Next