Enter any address in Morgan County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe weather events dominates Morgan County's flood history, supported by 111 recorded flash flood events alongside 36 general floods, 2 tropical storms, and 1 tropical depression over the last 30 years. Recent impacts are exemplified by slow-moving and back-building thunderstorm complexes on May 19, 2025, which produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the region.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that flood risks extend across multiple zones. Zone A accounts for the highest claim volume with 120 claims averaging a $16,408 payout and an average recorded water depth of 7 inches. Meanwhile, Zone X properties have also sustained damage, including 42 claims in standard Zone X areas averaging a $23,926 payout with an average water depth of 7 inches, 20 claims in shaded Zone X areas averaging a $28,149 payout with an average water depth of 2 inches, and 12 claims in unshaded Zone X areas averaging an $11,292 payout with an average water depth of 2 inches. Additionally, 5 claims with an unknown zone designation averaged a $6,208 payout and an average water depth of 28 inches.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the closest attention to properties located within high-risk Zone A, where the highest volume of historical flood claims has been recorded, as well as properties in Zone X areas where significant average payouts demonstrate that flood risk exists outside of designated special flood hazard areas.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
57 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Morgan County, Alabama has recorded 150 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 111 flash floods and 36 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 24, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jan 12, 2023 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 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, 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 | Apr 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 31, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 23, 2025
Heavy rainfall occurred across portions of Northern Alabama on April 23rd. A few instances of flash flooding were reported as a result of the heavy rainfall, mainly in Morgan County, AL.
Flash Flood — May 19, 2025
A slow moving and back building complex of strong to severe thunderstorms move east from northern Mississippi across northern Alabama shortly after midnight before weakening and exiting into NW Georgia just before daybreak on the 19th. These storms produced damaging winds (particularly in north central Alabama) west of the I-65 corridor. Damage from a lightning strike in the Albertville area to...
Flood — May 19, 2025
A slow moving and back building complex of strong to severe thunderstorms move east from northern Mississippi across northern Alabama shortly after midnight before weakening and exiting into NW Georgia just before daybreak on the 19th. These storms produced damaging winds (particularly in north central Alabama) west of the I-65 corridor. Damage from a lightning strike in the Albertville area to...
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...
Flood — Aug 4, 2023
Several disturbances moved SSE through NNW flow and affect locations near and west of the I-65 corridor with training strong thunderstorms producing torrential rainfall producing both nuisance and flash flooding.
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 Morgan 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 Morgan County, Alabama that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, 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.