Enter any address in Wilcox County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flood reported in Wilcox County, AL, with 12 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Tropical storms and hurricanes have also impacted the area, with 5 tropical storm events and 2 hurricane events noted in the same period. Recent examples include flash flooding in April 2021, which brought 4 to 12 inches of rain to parts of the region, and March 2021, when heavy rainfall and strong winds caused damage.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, typically areas with higher flood risk, experience significantly higher average payouts and water depths compared to Zone X. While Zone V claims are fewer, they also show notable water depths. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A and Zone V, as well as those located near rivers or in areas prone to flash flooding, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wilcox County, Alabama has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods. The county has received 22 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 (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Hurricane Zeta | Hurricane | Oct 28, 2020 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Nate | Hurricane | Oct 6, 2017 |
| 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 | Mar 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 4, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 28, 2020 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 15, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Apr 14, 2018 | 100.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 7, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2006 | — |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2005 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2005 | — |
Flash Flood — Mar 16, 2021
Clusters of showers and thunderstorms stalled over portions of southwest Alabama and trained over the same areas producing very heavy rain and flooding. The thunderstorms also produced strong winds which caused damage in southwest Alabama.
Flash Flood — Oct 4, 2021
The combination of a stalled front and very slow moving upper level low combined with very deep Gulf moisture to generate rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 12 inches fell across the area and led to numerous reports of flooding. Significant flash flooding was reported in parts of Escambia County AL, particularly from Brewton east to the Damascus area. The Murder Creek...
Tropical Storm — Oct 28, 2020
Hurricane Zeta made landfall in southeast Louisiana during the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, October 28th as a strong category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. Zeta quickly raced northeast and moved across inland southeast Mississippi and inland southwest Alabama during the evening hours. Shortly after midnight, Thursday, October 29th, Zeta weakened to a tropical storm ...
Tropical Storm — Sep 15, 2020
Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL at 5am on Wednesday, September 16th as a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Sally produced widespread wind, storm surge, and freshwater flooding across coastal AL and the western Florida Panhandle. Flood and wind damage also extended well inland into inland southwest Alabama and south central Alabama. Sally was a...
Flash Flood — Apr 14, 2018
A deep upper level low moved into the lower Mississippi Valley and pushed a cold front into the southeast states. The front temporarily stalled over portions of southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama during the afternoon and evening of April 14th. This resulted in the training of thunderstorms, which resulted in flash flooding across portions of inland southwest Alabama. As the front began...
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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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.