Enter any address in Blount County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Blount County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 39 flash flood events, compared to 7 general flood events and a few tropical storm or depression events. Recent examples include flash flooding on August 4, 2023, and February 17, 2022.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 15 claims with an average payout of $12,507 and an average water depth of 2.8 feet. Zone X properties have had fewer claims (6), but with a significantly higher average payout of $94,847 and an average water depth of 5.2 feet. Zone X_Unshaded properties had 2 claims with an average payout of $5,528 and an average water depth of 3.0 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, and those in Zone X who may experience deeper water despite fewer claims, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
13 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Blount County, Alabama has recorded 51 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 39 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Severe Thunderstorms | Severe Storm | Apr 12, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 19, 2019 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2014 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 6, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flood — Mar 1, 2024
A shortwave trough approaching the Mississippi Valley from the central Great Plains, along with a surface low in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and stationary boundary along the Gulf Coast, contributed to widespread showers moving across Central Alabama during the morning hours of March 1. A ridge located over the East Coast promoted easterly surface winds across the area, with temperatures in...
Flash Flood — May 18, 2023
A multi-day severe weather event unfolded across Central Alabama from May 16th through May 18th, 2023. An active northwest flow pattern coupled with a stalled out surface frontal boundary provided the ingredients necessary for strong to severe thunderstorms to develop during the heating of the day.
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
An active northwest upper flow pattern produced several waves of convective storms during the first week of August.
Flash Flood — Feb 17, 2022
A highly sheared and dynamic storm system produced numerous strong and severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on February 17th. Several supercells developed along a pre-frontal trough, which produced a few tornadoes. Additionally, several rounds of heavy rain produced some flash flooding along and|north of I-20, and strong gradient winds ahead of the front caused scattered ...
Flash Flood — Mar 31, 2021
A warm front moved pushed northward into north Central Alabama late on March 30th and into the early morning hours on March 31st. A low pressure area developed along the warm front and tracked from west to east across northern Alabama. This feature pooled instability just south of the front and added just enough shear for some rotating and organized storms. Subsequently, three weak and short-l...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Blount County, Alabama:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Blount County, Alabama that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.