Alabama flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 44,896 flood insurance claims in Alabama since 1978. The NFIP paid $1.2 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).
The year with the most claims was 2004, with 7,269, mostly from Hurricane Ivan.
In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 5,538 claims, and the average paid claim was $42,728.
21% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).
About 1.3% of homes in Alabama had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (25,579 of 1,923,527 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 29% (18,305 of 62,310).
Since 2000, FEMA has made 16 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Alabama. The most recent was DR-4632-AL (Severe Storms and Flooding), declared December 21, 2021.
Flood insurance claims in Alabama by year
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 37 | $967,631 |
| 2025 | 89 | $3.2 million |
| 2024 | 85 | $2.1 million |
| 2023 | 64 | $2.6 million |
| 2022 | 116 | $3.4 million |
| 2021 | 535 | $21.6 million |
| 2020 | 3,876 | $133.8 million |
| 2019 | 180 | $3.4 million |
| 2018 | 117 | $1.5 million |
| 2017 | 439 | $9.0 million |
| 2016 | 70 | $480,751 |
| 2015 | 456 | $10.1 million |
| 2014 | 1,434 | $55.1 million |
| 2013 | 203 | $2.7 million |
| 2012 | 353 | $3.7 million |
| 2011 | 317 | $7.0 million |
| 2010 | 150 | $1.3 million |
| 2009 | 716 | $13.9 million |
| 2008 | 507 | $4.8 million |
| 2007 | 72 | $1.2 million |
| 2006 | 58 | $794,781 |
| 2005 | 6,354 | $304.2 million |
| 2004 | 7,269 | $363.3 million |
| 2003 | 674 | $13.2 million |
| 2002 | 1,210 | $7.6 million |
| 2001 | 110 | $744,873 |
| 2000 | 216 | $2.5 million |
| 1999 | 390 | $5.9 million |
| 1998 | 5,854 | $95.7 million |
| 1997 | 1,217 | $11.4 million |
| 1996 | 231 | $1.8 million |
| 1995 | 1,896 | $17.8 million |
| 1994 | 264 | $4.4 million |
| 1993 | 40 | $192,751 |
| 1992 | 58 | $299,218 |
| 1991 | 215 | $1.0 million |
| 1990 | 708 | $9.5 million |
| 1989 | 88 | $485,412 |
| 1988 | 42 | $64,777 |
| 1987 | 60 | $141,175 |
| 1986 | 12 | $50,336 |
| 1985 | 1,125 | $3.2 million |
| 1984 | 66 | $200,505 |
| 1983 | 850 | $4.8 million |
| 1982 | 225 | $534,739 |
| 1981 | 1,220 | $18.1 million |
| 1980 | 900 | $6.6 million |
| 1979 | 3,578 | $40.4 million |
| 1978 | 150 | $334,505 |
Biggest flood events by NFIP payments
The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Alabama, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004 | 6,895 | $355.5 million |
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005 | 5,663 | $288.7 million |
| Hurricane Sally | 2020 | 3,321 | $123.9 million |
| Hurricane Georges | 1998 | 4,593 | $69.7 million |
| Mid-spring storms | 2014 | 1,087 | $47.0 million |
| Hurricane Frederic | 1979 | 2,865 | $38.1 million |
| Flooding | 1998 | 974 | $23.8 million |
| Flooding | 1981 | 1,101 | $17.6 million |
| Hurricane Opal | 1995 | 1,781 | $17.3 million |
| Hurricane Danny | 1997 | 1,093 | $10.4 million |
What flood insurance costs in Alabama
On June 30, 2026, 44,989 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Alabama. For the 23,031 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,210; the average was $1,400.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 34,003 | $1,310 | $1,570 | $211,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 10,986 | $1,060 | $1,020 | $227,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Flood history by county
Every Alabama county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin County | 19,745 | $659.5 million | 9.2% | $1,260 | 5 |
| Mobile County | 15,117 | $368.6 million | 3.6% | $1,260 | 4 |
| Jefferson County | 2,884 | $47.4 million | 0.5% | $1,160 | 8 |
| Shelby County | 797 | $19.2 million | 0.6% | $1,260 | 3 |
| Madison County | 785 | $11.6 million | 2.2% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Coffee County | 591 | $17.7 million | 0.6% | $1,010 | 4 |
| Montgomery County | 417 | $6.7 million | 0.9% | $1,060 | 2 |
| Escambia County | 384 | $13.8 million | 0.5% | $990 | 4 |
| Tuscaloosa County | 298 | $3.4 million | 0.8% | $1,160 | 6 |
| Morgan County | 200 | $3.0 million | 0.9% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Dallas County | 196 | $2.0 million | 1.1% | $940 | 3 |
| Houston County | 195 | $4.1 million | 0.7% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Geneva County | 154 | $2.8 million | 0.4% | $1,040 | 5 |
| Colbert County | 144 | $1.9 million | 0.3% | $990 | 5 |
| Dale County | 144 | $3.7 million | 0.3% | $840 | 5 |
| Lauderdale County | 141 | $1.4 million | 0.3% | $1,210 | 2 |
| Calhoun County | 129 | $706,258 | 0.6% | $1,060 | 2 |
| Etowah County | 129 | $815,060 | 0.5% | $1,210 | 3 |
| Pickens County | 116 | $1.2 million | 0.9% | $1,210 | 2 |
| Hale County | 115 | $670,842 | 1.0% | $1,290 | 1 |
| Greene County | 111 | $1.1 million | 1.8% | $960 | 3 |
| Talladega County | 107 | $2.1 million | 0.9% | $1,140 | 2 |
| St. Clair County | 96 | $1.4 million | 0.9% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Autauga County | 77 | $1.4 million | 0.9% | $1,140 | 3 |
| Jackson County | 69 | $664,062 | 0.5% | $1,190 | 5 |
| Elmore County | 66 | $1.1 million | 1.1% | $1,240 | 4 |
| Walker County | 65 | $686,045 | 0.2% | $1,440 | 5 |
| Lee County | 62 | $511,007 | 0.5% | $990 | 4 |
| Russell County | 60 | $1.1 million | 0.3% | $1,160 | 5 |
| Limestone County | 59 | $670,826 | 0.6% | $1,040 | 4 |
| Choctaw County | 53 | $562,809 | 0.4% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Lawrence County | 46 | $792,486 | 0.4% | $1,110 | 3 |
| Marshall County | 41 | $1.0 million | 0.2% | $1,210 | 5 |
| DeKalb County | 40 | $1.0 million | 0.2% | $1,090 | 8 |
| Marengo County | 40 | $186,508 | 0.8% | $940 | 2 |
| Covington County | 37 | $396,563 | 0.5% | $1,390 | 6 |
| Barbour County | 34 | $694,851 | 0.3% | $1,390 | 4 |
| Clarke County | 31 | $894,585 | 0.3% | $1,490 | 4 |
| Cullman County | 30 | $563,596 | 0.2% | $1,260 | 5 |
| Blount County | 27 | $813,740 | 0.1% | $1,360 | 7 |
| Cherokee County | 27 | $386,576 | 1.3% | $1,260 | 4 |
| Chambers County | 24 | $921,468 | 0.2% | $1,240 | 4 |
| Monroe County | 24 | $110,938 | 0.1% | n/a | 3 |
| Wilcox County | 21 | $124,097 | 0.8% | $1,360 | 3 |
| Henry County | 19 | $466,508 | 0.3% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Sumter County | 17 | $257,159 | 0.6% | $1,090 | 1 |
| Washington County | 15 | $114,716 | 0.1% | n/a | 4 |
| Lamar County | 14 | $66,572 | 0.2% | n/a | 8 |
| Bibb County | 12 | $32,985 | 0.2% | n/a | 2 |
| Lowndes County | 11 | $126,452 | 1.6% | $1,190 | 2 |
| Marion County | 11 | $169,535 | 0.2% | n/a | 4 |
| Winston County | 11 | $129,638 | 0.2% | $1,410 | 3 |
| Chilton County | 10 | $78,492 | 0.1% | $1,240 | 3 |
| Coosa County | 10 | $186,064 | 0.3% | n/a | 2 |
| Tallapoosa County | 6 | $57,533 | 0.4% | $1,390 | 2 |
| Macon County | 5 | $55,962 | 0.2% | n/a | 4 |
| Franklin County | 4 | $52,093 | 0.1% | n/a | 4 |
| Bullock County | 3 | $62,115 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Butler County | 3 | $9,900 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
| Conecuh County | 3 | $62,490 | 0.1% | n/a | 3 |
| Crenshaw County | 2 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
| Perry County | 2 | $7,315 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
| Clay County | 1 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 3 |
| Randolph County | 1 | $15,829 | 0.1% | n/a | 3 |
| Cleburne County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 3 |
| Fayette County | 0 | $0 | 0.2% | n/a | 4 |
| Pike County | 0 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 3 |
Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Alabama
Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help for individuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4632-AL | Dec 21, 2021 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-4546-AL | May 21, 2020 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4426-AL | Apr 17, 2019 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | No |
| DR-4251-AL | Jan 21, 2016 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | No |
| DR-4176-AL | May 2, 2014 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-4052-AL | Feb 1, 2012 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1971-AL | Apr 28, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1908-AL | May 3, 2010 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1870-AL | Dec 31, 2009 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-1842-AL | Jun 3, 2009 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds | Yes |
| DR-1836-AL | May 8, 2009 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | No |
| DR-1835-AL | Apr 28, 2009 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-Line | Yes |
| DR-1797-AL | Sep 26, 2008 | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane Ike | No |
| DR-1466-AL | May 12, 2003 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1362-AL | Mar 5, 2001 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-1322-AL | Mar 17, 2000 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
What to do with this
A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.
Where these numbers come from
All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.