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CollinsvilleAlabamaDowntownPhoto: DwayneP · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Collinsville · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Collinsville than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collinsville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1988.

River and rain flooding 87%Earthquakes 4%Tornadoes 4%

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

more than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C−
in Alabama · higher than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
87% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 1988 · $4K
Disasters paid out here
5
of 30 declared for DeKalb County

What stands out about Collinsville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Landslides: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.3% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants13 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Collinsville 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

87%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Hail Hurricanes Ice storms Wildfire Landslides top 2% Winter storms Cold waves Lightning Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 12% of Collinsville’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Collinsville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Collinsville, and Collinsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Collinsville sits
Collinsville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Collinsville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding87%Earthquakes4%Tornadoes4%Everything else4%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Collinsville: $624K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Collinsville covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Collinsville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1988

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Collinsville, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1988: 1 claim1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198819942003
19882026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Alberto1 claim · $2K
3
paid claims since 1988
$4K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$1K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Collinsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: DeKalb County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
13storm safe rooms built
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Collinsville

Disasters that paid out in Collinsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Collinsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$849 aid approved
  2. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding75 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$7K to the City of Collinsville for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding15 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$4K to the City of Collinsville for repairs
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  5. 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$12K to the City of Collinsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CollinsvilleDeKalb County only

DeKalb County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in DeKalb County, 1999–1999.

Were you here?

Old photos of Collinsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Collinsville archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Collinsville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Collinsville

Is Collinsville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collinsville has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Collinsville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Collinsville since 1988, $4K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Alberto (1).

Is Collinsville 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 DeKalb County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Collinsville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Collinsville’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 Collinsville?

By FEMA money that reached Collinsville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2010): 15 households applied for aid, $66K approved, and $4K to the City of Collinsville for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Alberto: 1 paid, $2K.

Is Collinsville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Collinsville’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Collinsville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Collinsville’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.