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Risk: Relatively Moderate

Escambia County, AL Environment & Hazard Risk

Relatively Moderate natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 292 storm events since 1996.

Expected yearly loss
$36.19M
Relatively Low nationally
Storm events since 1996
292
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
86
0.5% of homes
Hurricanes nearby
8
24 tropical storms or stronger since 1859

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025

Overall risk

Relatively Moderate

Score 85.0 of 100

Social vulnerability

Very High

Score 89.7 of 100

Community resilience

Relatively Low

Score 26.5 of 100

Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.

Building value exposed: $7.71B · Agriculture value exposed: $39.88M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $57.94M

Risk by hazard

  • HurricaneRelatively High$20.83M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
  • LightningRelatively High$1.49M/yr expected annual loss, about 80 events a year
  • Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.23M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.0 events a year
  • TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.02M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
  • Strong windRelatively Moderate$715K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
  • WildfireRelatively Low$154K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 440 years
  • DroughtRelatively Low$239K/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
  • EarthquakeVery Low$255K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 857 years
  • Cold waveRelatively Low$507K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
  • LandslideVery Low$552/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
  • Winter weatherRelatively Low$18.81K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
  • HailVery Low$66.92K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.5 events a year
  • Ice stormVery Low$2,508/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Flood risk and insurance

National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance
86 of 16,281 (0.5%)
Homes in high-risk flood zones
554
Insured in high-risk zones
56 (10%)
Flood claims since 1978
384
Claims paid since 1978
$13.76M

Flood claims paid per year

Flood claims paid per year in Escambia County
  • Flooding$5.63M · 98 claims
  • Hurricane Sally$1.79M · 37 claims
  • Hurricane Georges$1.27M · 51 claims
  • Hurricane Ivan$322K · 20 claims
  • Hurricane Opal$179K · 18 claims
  • Central U.S. April Flooding$160K · 4 claims

Storm history

Since 1996: 292 events, 4 deaths, $14.23M in damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind149
  • Hail55
  • Flash Flood43
  • Tornado15
  • Winter Storm5
  • Lightning5 · 2 deaths
  • Heat4 · 2 deaths
  • Hurricane (Typhoon)4
  • Tropical Storm3
  • Flood3

Events per year

Storm events per year in Escambia County
3
7
18
8
12
7
2
8
7
26
7
5
4
16
15
5
21
6
5
1

30 tornadoes on record (EF0 1, EF1 5, EF2 4, F0 7, F1 6, F2 4, F3 2).

Most damaging storms

Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • TornadoEF2, 14.06 mi path, 650 yd wide06/19/2021

    Brewton Muni Arpt, Escambia County

    20 injured, $3.2M damage

    What happened

    The tornado first touched down on Jay Road just west of Highway 41 in Riverview. The tornado intensified and widened as it moved northeast into East Brewton, crossing over|Highway 41. During this time, the tornado produced EF-1 intensity damage to numerous trees, homes, businesses in the area. Some of the most severe damage was located at the intersection of Forrest Avenue and Andrew Jackson Street where several mobile homes were completely destroyed. This was rated as EF-2 intensity damage with peak estimated winds of 125-130 mph. There was also significant roof damage to the auditorium at W S Neal High School. The tornado continued northeast and moved across Shoffner Street. Primarily EF-1 intensity damage to trees and homes was noted here, but a swath of EF-2 intensity tree damage was noted in a valley just north of Ballard Street. Major tree damage continued north across Cook Road. Additional major structural damage was observed along Riddle Road near Horseshoe Road. A single wide mobile home was completely destroyed with the frame tossed over a 100 yards away. The owner was ejected from the building and found near the frame and suffered serious injuries. A home on the...

  • Heat08/01/1999

    Escambia

    1 death

    What happened

    Near record breaking high temperatures occurred across Mobile and Escambia counties the first two days of August. Two elderly women died in their homes from excessive heat. A seventy-three year old female died in Brewton and a seventy-one year old died in Mobile. The daytime temperatures were in the upper 90s on August 1 and 2. Both victims were found in their homes with the windows closed and the air conditioner turned off.

  • Lightning07/09/2022

    Brewton, Escambia County

    1 death

    What happened

    A man in his 30s was struck and killed by lightning while floating along the Burnt Corn Creek.

  • Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind03/18/2022

    Porch, Escambia County

    10 injured

    What happened

    A swath of damaging straight line winds impacted|the Poarch, AL area on 3/18/22 at 9:04 AM CDT. A narrow swath of|intense wind gusts estimated at 90 to 100mph affected a mobile|home park where several mobile homes were rolled/destroyed. The|surrounding area sustained severe wind gusts to the southeast|where several trees were snapped/uprooted and a farm and nearby|residences sustained roof damage to several buildings. The survey|team found no evidence of convergence with all damage laid out in|a southwest to northeast swath suggesting straight line wind|damage.

  • Lightning07/06/2009

    Wawbeek, Escambia County

    1 death

    What happened

    Monday morning Dawn Yoder of Atmore was struck by lightning at her home. She was found 10 to 15 minutes after the lightning strike by her family members and transported to the hospital where she later died on July 8th.

  • Heat06/29/1998

    Escambia

    1 death

    What happened

    A 68 year old female in Atmore was found dead in a closed up house with no air conditioner. It is unknown what time she died. Relatives found her body on a couch. The house was extremely hot. Autopsy reports indicated that one of the causes of her death was hypothermia. She also had heart trouble. The temperature across the area during that time was in the low to middle 90s with the heat index reaching around 100 degrees.

Latest storm reports

Newest first

  • TornadoEF1, 0.62 mi path, 80 yd wide03/12/2026

    Carney, Escambia County

  • Hail1" hail06/10/2025

    Foshee, Escambia County

  • Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/09/2025

    Brewton, Escambia County

  • Flash Flood04/07/2025

    Atmore, Escambia County

  • Flash Flood04/07/2025

    Flomaton, Escambia County

  • Heavy Snow01/21/2025

    Escambia

  • TornadoEF1, 2.22 mi path, 50 yd wide12/29/2024

    Sardine, Escambia County

  • Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind05/13/2024

    Kirkland, Escambia County

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Storms whose track crossed Escambia County, with the wind when it passed

Drinking water

9 community water systems serve about 43,326 people. Violations since 2021.

1 system had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 1 system had a violation of any kind still open at last report.

Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.

Climate

1991-2020 normals at Brewton 3 Nne, 6.3 mi from the county center

Summer highs peak around 89°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 38°F in Jan. About 61.5 inches of rain falls in a typical year.

MonthHighLowRain
Jan60°F38°F5.90 in
Feb65°F41°F4.22 in
Mar71°F46°F5.11 in
Apr77°F53°F4.99 in
May85°F61°F4.48 in
Jun88°F68°F6.36 in
Jul89°F70°F6.65 in
Aug89°F70°F6.15 in
Sep86°F65°F3.80 in
Oct79°F55°F3.40 in
Nov69°F45°F4.09 in
Dec62°F40°F6.32 in
Year66°F average61.5 in

Pollution sites

0 Superfund sites and 11 toxic release facilities in Escambia County

Superfund sites

None in this county.

Toxic release facilities

Total: 2.3 million lbs in 2024, 2.0 million lbs to air.

Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk1 historic places

Frequently asked questions

How risky is Escambia County for natural disasters?
FEMA rates Escambia County relatively moderate for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $36.19M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively high), lightning (relatively high), heat wave (relatively moderate).
What storms are most common in Escambia County?
Since 1996, NOAA recorded 292 storm events affecting Escambia County, most often thunderstorm wind (149), hail (55), flash flood (43).
How many tornadoes have hit Escambia County?
30 tornadoes have been recorded in Escambia County since 1950, including 2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
How many homes in Escambia County have flood insurance?
86 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Escambia County, covering about 0.5% of homes. The program has paid $13.76M on 384 claims here since 1978.
What is the weather like in Escambia County?
At Brewton 3 Nne, average highs reach 89°F in Jul and lows fall to 38°F in Jan, with 61.5 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).

Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.