Chickasaw Shipyard Village Historic District · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Chickasaw faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chickasaw gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #169 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (61%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 181 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 Chickasaw’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chickasaw faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Chickasaw’s grade
Hurricanes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chickasaw, and Chickasaw’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #169 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chickasaw’s residents live in 6 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, Chickasaw has more expected damage per building than 90% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Chickasaw: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chickasaw flood? Yes: 181 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chickasaw, from FEMA’s records: 67.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina71 claims · $4.6M
- Hurricane Georges33 claims · $641K
- Hurricane Frederic25 claims · $173K
Chickasaw isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mobile County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chickasaw
Disasters that paid out in Chickasaw itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Chickasaw), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta194 households applied for aid$207K aid approved$68K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Sally681 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$268K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$93K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding168 households applied for aid$128K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$42K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$48K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina785 households applied for aid$989K aid approved$750K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs71 flood claims paid for it, $4.6M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis66 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$40K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan514 households applied for aid$444K aid approved$380K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding143 households applied for aid$260K aid approved
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$349K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $28K
Mobile County has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Chickasaw after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chickasaw archive →Chickasaw and its neighbors
Chickasaw is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Chickasaw faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Chickasaw
Is Chickasaw at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chickasaw has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #169 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (61%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chickasaw flood?
Flood insurance has paid 181 claims in Chickasaw since 1978, $5.8M in all, or 67.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 35 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (71).
Is Chickasaw 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 Mobile County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chickasaw?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chickasaw’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Chickasaw?
By FEMA money that reached Chickasaw, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 785 households applied for aid, $989K approved, and $750K to the City of Chickasaw for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 71 paid, $4.6M.
Is Chickasaw at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Chickasaw’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chickasaw.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chickasaw’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.