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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 19:12, as SPC files it | Dadeville | EF4 | 44.18 mi | 7 |
| 1970-03-19 23:08, as SPC files it | Valley | F3 | 2 mi | 2 |
| 2012-03-02 22:40, as SPC files it | Alexander | EF2 | 34.04 mi | 1 |
| 1989-03-05 19:40, as SPC files it | FranklinCrossed AL, GA | F2 | 45.5 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.
Every tornado record filed for Chambers County (27)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 28 | 37 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 36 | 16 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 21 | 42 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
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).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3618 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2023-05-05 | DR-4710 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2023-01-15 | DR-4684 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-09-14 | EM-3545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-05-21 | DR-4546 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4503 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3472 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-09-11 | EM-3389 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4251 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-28 | DR-1971 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-27 | EM-3319 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-30 | EM-3292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3237 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1593 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-15 | DR-1549 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1466 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1070 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3096 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-03-21 | DR-861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-18 | DR-578 | Flood | Storms, Wind, Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3045 | Drought | Drought |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-488 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1970-04-09 | DR-285 | Severe Storm | Heavy 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 5.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.7M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $228K | 64 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $439K | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.0M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $37K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $125K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $43K | 54 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
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in AlabamaEvery Alabama tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in AlabamaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Alabama recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chambers CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chambers County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis