Enter any address in Cleburne County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe weather events is the primary flood concern in Cleburne County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 11 flash flood events, resulting in one fatality. Tropical storms and depressions have also impacted the county, with 4 tropical storm events and 3 tropical depression events recorded in the same period.
Recent events illustrate these risks. On March 15, 2025, a significant severe weather outbreak brought isolated flooding to Central Alabama, including Cleburne County, alongside tornadoes and high winds. On August 3, 2025, slow-moving thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall, leading to street flooding in nearby areas. Additionally, on September 27, 2024, tropical depression-like effects from Hurricane Helene caused wind gusts that downed trees and power lines.
Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying locations, should pay close attention to flood risk. Homeowners in zones with higher flood risk, as indicated by FEMA flood insurance claims, should be particularly aware of potential impacts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cleburne County, Alabama has recorded 18 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 2 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 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Apr 27, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Hurricane Gustav | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Mar 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Tropical Depression | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 7, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 30, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Depression | Nov 9, 2009 | 2.00K |
| Tropical Depression | Aug 23, 2008 | 5.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 29, 2005 | 25K |
Flash Flood — Mar 15, 2025
A significant severe weather event unfolded across Central Alabama on March 15, with 15 tornadoes, several instances of straight-line wind damage, and isolated flooding. An initial round of storms during the early morning brought reports of large hail in Pickens and Walker counties, followed by an afternoon round with several strong, long-track tornadoes. Of the 15 tornadoes, five were rated EF...
Flash Flood — Aug 3, 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms occurred during the afternoon of August 1. One storm dumped 2-3 of rain over a localized area of Vestavia Hills and northern Hoover in less than an hour, resulting in numerous street flooding issues along Highway 31 and nearby roadways. The next day, heavy rainfall developed along a boundary between the I-59 and I-20 corridors in northeast Central Alabama during the af...
Tropical Depression — Sep 27, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane along the Florida Big Bend/Panhandle late on September 26. As the center of circulation passed northward through Georgia overnight and the next morning, tropical depression-like effects were felt across far eastern Central Alabama, with wind gusts of 30-40 mph bringing down trees and a few power lines in several counties.
Tropical Storm — Oct 29, 2020
Tropical cyclone Zeta developed over the Western Caribbean Sea on Saturday, October 24, and slowly moved west. The tropical storm emerged into the Southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, October 27th. Zeta turned northwest and became a hurricane on Wednesday, October 28th. Zeta made landfall in southeast Louisiana late on Wednesday, then moved northeast into southwest Alabama late Wednesday night. ...
Tropical Storm — Sep 11, 2017
Hurricane Irma made landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula on September 10th. The hurricane tracked northward across Florida and weakened into a tropical storm on September 11th as it moved into southwest Georgia Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for east central Alabama as Tropical Storm Irma approached east Alabama. Steady rains overspread the region by early morning, with ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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.