Enter any address in Mobile County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Mobile County over the last 30 years, with 173 occurrences. Coastal flooding and tropical storm events also contribute to flood risk, with 22 and 13 events respectively. For example, slow-moving storms on April 6, 2025, dropped 8 to 12 inches of rain in some areas, causing severe flooding in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, totaling 7,042, with an average payout of $26,462 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Zone V properties, often associated with coastal storm damage, have seen 2,466 claims with an average payout of $25,877 and an average water depth of 5.0 feet. Properties in unshaded and shaded Zone X, as well as Zone X, have also incurred significant claims, indicating that flood risk is not limited to high-risk areas.
Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those residing near rivers and in zones designated as A or V, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Properties located in Zone X_UNSHADED, while having lower average water depths and payouts, still represent a notable number of claims, suggesting that flood insurance may be advisable even outside of the highest-risk designations.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
65 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Mobile County, Alabama has recorded 231 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 173 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 40 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 (1969–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jan 12, 2023 |
| Hurricane Zeta | Hurricane | Oct 28, 2020 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Michael | Hurricane | Oct 10, 2018 |
| Hurricane Nate | Hurricane | Oct 6, 2017 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 12, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Apr 10, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 8, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 10, 2025
Thunderstorms moved across the area and produced damaging winds and heavy rain.
Flash Flood — Apr 6, 2025
Slow moving storms developed across Mobile and Baldwin county and become stationary. Some areas received 8 to 12 inches of rain causing severe flooding in parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties. Around 100 homes were damaged by flooding in Baldwin County.
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2024
Strong thunderstorms stalled across downtown Mobile and caused heavy rain and flooding.
Coastal Flood — Sep 12, 2024
Hurricane Francine impacted much of the south central gulf coast states, making landfall in Louisiana. Tropical storm force winds and gusts extended eastward into Mississippi and Alabama, resulting in some minor damage across the area. Coastal flooding additionally impacted much of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
Coastal Flood — Apr 10, 2024
A severe line of thunderstorms moved across the Gulf Coast during the day. This line of storms produced large and damaging winds along with a couple of tornadoes.
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 Mobile 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 Mobile 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.