Enter any address in Jackson County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Jackson County, AL, with 53 such events recorded in the last 30 years. This is followed by general flooding (29 events) and tropical storms (3 events). Recent examples include flash flooding that occurred on February 12, 2025, following two rounds of heavy rainfall, and another flash flood event on May 20, 2025, which was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 31 claims averaging $10,094 and an average water depth of 1.5 feet. However, properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts ($7,755) with a significantly deeper average water depth of 5.9 feet, despite fewer claims. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay particular attention to their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
53 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jackson County, Alabama has recorded 85 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 53 flash floods and 29 river or area floods. The county has received 28 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 (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, 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, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 27, 2025
Strong to severe thunderstorms, including miniature supercells, developed during the late afternoon and early evening hours before weakening and pushing east into Georgia after midnight. The thunderstorms produced damaging winds and a tornado in north central portions of Alabama. Isolated flash flooding occurred as well.
Flood — Sep 24, 2025
A combination of miniature supercells and segments of thunderstorms produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Excessive rainfall resulted in flash flooding in the Scottsboro area. Also, thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines on the southeast side of Scottsboro.
Flash Flood — May 20, 2025
An outbreak of tornadoes, large hail, wind damage and flash flooding occurred during the afternoon and evening of the 20th. Fourteen tornadoes occurred in north Alabama, including 1 EF-0, 10 EF-1, 2 EF-2, and 1 EF-U (unknown) which was a waterspout on Wheeler Lake. One person was injured in Colbert County. There were also several reports of large hail, including baseball sized and larger in no...
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2025
A complex of showers and thunderstorms dropped southeats into northeast and north central Alabama during the early morning hours. Isolated flash flooding was reported in Jackson County. Additional clusters of thunderstorms developed during the midday into the afternoon across northwest Alabama. One of these thunderstorms knocked down a tree in Lauderdale County.
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...
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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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.