Enter any address in Cullman County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Cullman County. Between 1996 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 80 flash flood events, alongside 13 other flood events, two tropical storms, and one tropical depression. Recent examples include flash flooding reported in June 2025 following scattered thunderstorms, and widespread river flooding and flash flooding in February 2025 due to two rounds of heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that while Zone A properties have experienced a higher volume of claims (13), Zone X properties have seen higher average payouts ($22,316) and significant water depths (average 9.0 ft in Zone X_UNSHADED). Homeowners in or near flood-prone areas, particularly those adjacent to rivers or in zones with a history of substantial water depth and claims, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
37 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cullman County, Alabama has recorded 96 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 80 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
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 And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 19, 2018 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2025
Several clusters and small bands of thunderstorms developed during the late morning and lasted into the afternoon hours as they travelled south and southeast. On of the thunderstorms produced a lightning strike which resulted in an injury in Russellville. One of the thunderstorms knocked down a tree.||Flash flooding was also reported in Cullman County as a result of the heavy rainfall.
Flash Flood — Feb 12, 2025
Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected Northern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee, with the first round producing widespread river flooding across the area. In addition, flash flooding occurred in several locations with the first event, and again with the second event just 48-72 hours later. While most river gage locations fell back below flood stage by the end of the week, the Tennessee Riv...
Flash Flood — Sep 13, 2024
As the remains of Tropical System Francine slowly meandered through the mid South, a persistent band of showers and thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall totals over the two day period from the 13th into the 14th. Some of the heaviest rains occurred during the evening of the 13th into the morning hours of the 14th in parts of northwest and north central Alabama. Widespread rain totals of ...
Flood — Feb 16, 2023
Rainfall amounts of 2.5-4 fell over the course of a few hours on the evening of February 16th. Widespread flooding occurred across portions of Cullman, Marshall, and into portions of Jackson and Dekalb Counties. Parts of I-65 were shut down, and several water rescues occurred in Cullman County that evening thanks to thunderstorms repeatedly moving across these areas in a very warm and moist air...
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2022
Diurnal heating and a moisture convergence along a boundary just south of the Tennessee River produced scattered strong to severe shower and thunderstorm development in portions of northwestern Alabama and Cullman county. Some heavy rainfall occurred causing some ponding of water on roadways as well.
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 Cullman 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 Cullman 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.