Powell, AL
Powell, AL's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Powell sits at the 79th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 645 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Powell at the 84th national percentile — 5 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Powell's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS classifies 88.5% of Powell's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 11.5% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 571 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
How Powell compares
There's little gap between Powell's 79th national percentile and its 72nd percentile inside Alabama, which means the state comparison mostly confirms what the national score already shows. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Powell ranks 6,637 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 15,254 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alabama alone, it ranks 170 of 592 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alabama on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Powell
At the 79th percentile nationally, Powell carries the high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Powell (88.5%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Powell's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 645 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Powell. The exposure-zones guide covers what Powell's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.