Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Birmingham’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Birmingham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #85 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 898 claims here since 1978.
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 Birmingham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Birmingham 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
Tornadoes
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 Birmingham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Birmingham, and Birmingham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #85 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Birmingham’s residents live in 103 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, Birmingham has less expected damage per building than 55% of Alabama towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Birmingham has higher expected damage per building than 56% (#223 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $85.3M, is the 140th largest of those 400.
Does Birmingham flood? Yes: 898 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Birmingham, from FEMA’s records: 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ivan70 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Opal35 claims · $725K
- The Early winter storms13 claims · $124K
Birmingham is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Birmingham
Disasters that paid out in Birmingham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Birmingham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding319 households applied for aid$741K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes226 households applied for aid$142K aid approved
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding139 households applied for aid$71K aid approved43 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding187 households applied for aid$79K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding8,194 households applied for aid$6.9M aid approved$11.5M to the City of Birmingham for repairs45 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the City of Birmingham for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$278K to the City of Birmingham for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes13 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$1.2M to the City of Birmingham for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$677K to the City of Birmingham for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan5,753 households applied for aid$6.5M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Birmingham for repairs70 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,457 households applied for aid$6.9M aid approved$247K to the City of Birmingham for repairs132 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornadoes16 households applied for aid$18K aid approved32 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$1.5M to the City of Birmingham for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Its 2 counties have had 36 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 1999–2000.
Old photos of Birmingham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Birmingham archive →Birmingham and its neighbors
Birmingham is 7th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Point | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Irondale | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Homewood | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Forestdale | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Trussville | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Mountain Brook | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Birmingham | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 898 |
| Leeds | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Vestavia Hills | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Hoover | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 130 |
| McDonald Chapel | — | 651 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Birmingham 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
- Birmingham residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Birmingham
Is Birmingham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Birmingham has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #85 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Birmingham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 898 claims in Birmingham since 1978, $15.1M in all, or 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 106 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ivan (70).
Is Birmingham 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 Jefferson County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Birmingham?
Birmingham is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Birmingham?
By FEMA money that reached Birmingham, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2011): 8,194 households applied for aid, $6.9M approved, and $11.5M to the City of Birmingham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ivan: 70 paid, $1.0M.
Is Birmingham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Birmingham’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Birmingham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Birmingham’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.