Methodist Episcopal Church, South · Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Daphne than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daphne gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #180 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (19%). Flood insurance has paid 75 claims here since 1979.
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 Daphne’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Daphne 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 Daphne’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Daphne, and Daphne’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #180 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Daphne’s residents live in 7 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, Daphne has more expected damage per building than 96% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $25.0M a year in losses across Daphne: $21.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Daphne flood? Sometimes: 75 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Daphne, from FEMA’s records: 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina27 claims · $395K
- The Mid-spring storms16 claims · $495K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding12 claims · $959K
Daphne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Baldwin County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Daphne
Disasters that paid out in Daphne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Daphne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Sally3,515 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$5.8M to the City of Daphne for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$182K to the City of Daphne for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding394 households applied for aid$771K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Daphne for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$13K to the City of Daphne for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes and Straight-line$161K to the City of Daphne for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$51K to the City of Daphne for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,258 households applied for aid$916K aid approved$1.7M to the City of Daphne for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $395K
- 2005Hurricane Dennis167 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$64K to the City of Daphne for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan1,847 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Daphne for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding219 households applied for aid$495K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$92K to the City of Daphne for repairs
Baldwin County has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Daphne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Daphne archive →Daphne and its neighbors
Daphne is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Fort | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 21 |
| Daphne | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 75 |
| Fairhope | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 111 |
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 Daphne 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 Daphne
Is Daphne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daphne has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #180 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Daphne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 75 claims in Daphne since 1979, $2.5M in all, or 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (27).
Is Daphne 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 Baldwin County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Daphne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Daphne’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 Daphne?
By FEMA money that reached Daphne, Hurricane Sally (2020): 3,515 households applied for aid, $2.4M approved, and $5.8M to the City of Daphne for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 27 paid, $395K.
Is Daphne at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Daphne’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Daphne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Daphne’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.