Photo: Rivers Langley SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Auburn faces less hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #3 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1981.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Auburn’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Auburn faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Auburn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Auburn, and Auburn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #3 of 187 in Alabama; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Auburn’s residents live in 27 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Alabama town has higher expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Auburn has less expected damage per building than 99% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.3M a year in losses across Auburn: $13.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Auburn flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Auburn, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $40K
- The Early winter storms1 claim · $6K
Auburn is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lee County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Auburn
Disasters that paid out in Auburn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Auburn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Sally1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes14 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma$10K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$69K to the City of Auburn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$47K to the City of Auburn for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Hurricane Ivan242 households applied for aid$330K aid approved$201K to the City of Auburn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding28 households applied for aid$35K aid approved
Lee County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Auburn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Auburn archive →Auburn and its neighbors
Auburn is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Auburn | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Auburn faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Auburn residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Auburn
Is Auburn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #3 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Auburn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Auburn since 1981, $198K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).
Is Auburn in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Lee County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Auburn?
Auburn is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Auburn?
By FEMA money that reached Auburn, Hurricane Ivan (2004): 242 households applied for aid, $330K approved, and $201K to the City of Auburn for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $40K.
Is Auburn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Auburn’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Auburn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Auburn’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.