Citronelle Railroad Historic District · Photo: Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed) · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Citronelle than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Citronelle gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #161 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (72%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1985.
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 Citronelle 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 Citronelle’s grade
Hurricanes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Citronelle, and Citronelle’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 23% (lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
D #161 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Citronelle’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Alabama town has higher expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Citronelle has more expected damage per building than 86% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Citronelle: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Citronelle flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Citronelle, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Citronelle 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Citronelle
Disasters that paid out in Citronelle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Citronelle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes5 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta521 households applied for aid$787K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Citronelle for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Sally367 households applied for aid$565K aid approved
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding131 households applied for aid$157K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,520 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$50K to the City of Citronelle for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Dennis106 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$14K to the City of Citronelle for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Hurricane Ivan831 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$49K to the City of Citronelle for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding253 households applied for aid$797K aid approved
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 Citronelle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Citronelle archive →Get ready for what Citronelle 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 Citronelle
Is Citronelle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Citronelle has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #161 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (72%) and river and rain flooding (23%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Citronelle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Citronelle since 1985, $292 in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Citronelle 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 Citronelle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Citronelle’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 Citronelle?
By FEMA money that reached Citronelle, Hurricane Zeta (2020): 521 households applied for aid, $787K approved, and $1.3M to the City of Citronelle for repairs.
Is Citronelle at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Citronelle’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Citronelle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Citronelle’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.