Enter any address in Etowah County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Etowah County. Recent events include heavy rainfall in March 2024 and a multi-day severe weather outbreak in May 2023 that produced flash flooding. In June 2022, slow-moving thunderstorms also led to flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that while Zone A areas have had the most claims, Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X areas have also experienced significant payouts with substantial water depths. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have seen the deepest water on average, though with fewer claims. Residents in all flood zones, particularly those in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED, should be aware of their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Etowah County, Alabama has recorded 41 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 26 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 29 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 |
| 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 | Apr 28, 2014 |
| 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 |
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 | Jun 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2016 | 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 — Jun 7, 2022
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms occurred across North Central Alabama from the afternoon of June 7th through the evening of June 8th. The activity was the result several upper-level disturbances moving over a slow moving surface front. Some storms were strong to severe at times with damaging wind gusts, as well as large hail. Many of these thunderstorms went on to evolve into cluste...
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...
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. ...
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 Etowah 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 Etowah 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.