Cherokee County, Alabama: hazard risk
FEMA rates Cherokee County's overall risk Relatively Low (score 63.3 of 100, higher than 63% of rated U.S. counties). Its storm record holds 494 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.8 | $1.1M |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83.0 | $3.2M |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 73.4 | $696K |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | 70.4 | $9.2M |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 70.4 | $4K |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 68.2 | $107K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 62.9 | $198K |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 53.7 | $756K |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 46.2 | $142K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 44.8 | $329K |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44.6 | $198K |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 34.0 | $27K |
| Hail | Very Low | 33.8 | $96K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 24.3 | $15K |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 219 | 0 | $2.1M | 27th of 67 | 970th of 3,080 |
| Hail | 109 | 0 | $249K | 24th of 67 | 1348th of 3,080 |
| Drought | 44 | 0 | – | 19th of 67 | 522nd of 3,063 |
| Floods | 33 | 0 | $459K | 21st of 67 | 1457th of 3,080 |
| Winter storms | 30 | 0 | $625K | 12th of 67 | 2195th of 3,077 |
| Tornadoes | 18 | 3 | $32M | 59th of 67 | 1511th of 3,080 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 0 | $639K | 18th of 67 | 1812th of 3,080 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 0 | $166K | 8th of 67 | 388th of 1,849 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 0 | $1.9M | 16th of 67 | 1693rd of 3,076 |
| Heat | 5 | 0 | – | 49th of 67 | 1535th of 3,076 |
| Lightning | 4 | 0 | $250K | 35th of 67 | 941st of 3,080 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 0 | $3K | 23rd of 67 | 1530th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Cherokee County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.