Photo: Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Dauphin Island than almost anywhere in the U.S., led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dauphin Island gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (41%), then hurricanes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 2,693 claims 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 stands out about Dauphin Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dauphin Island faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Dauphin Island’s grade
Coastal flooding is 41% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dauphin Island, and Dauphin Island’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 38%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Dauphin Island’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Dauphin Island: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dauphin Island flood? Yes: 2,693 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dauphin Island, from FEMA’s records: 1,190.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina792 claims · $50.2M
- Hurricane Ivan749 claims · $17.1M
- Hurricane Georges287 claims · $4.8M
Dauphin Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Mobile County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dauphin Island
Disasters that paid out in Dauphin Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Dauphin Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Zeta25 households applied for aid$21K aid approved106 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
- 2020Hurricane Sally252 households applied for aid$207K aid approved$441K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Michael$221K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Nate$2.3M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs111 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$318K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs60 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Tropical Storm Ida$763K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs56 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Hurricane Ike$1.3M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$1.3M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina631 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$4.6M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs792 flood claims paid for it, $50.2M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis10 households applied for aid$796 aid approved$86K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan521 households applied for aid$724K aid approved$1.3M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs749 flood claims paid for it, $17.1M
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$74K to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs105 flood claims paid for it, $633K
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 Dauphin Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dauphin Island archive →Get ready for what Dauphin Island faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Dauphin Island residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Dauphin Island
Is Dauphin Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dauphin Island has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (41%) and hurricanes (38%). 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 Dauphin Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,693 claims in Dauphin Island since 1985, $83.0M in all, or 1,190.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 691 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (792).
Is Dauphin Island 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 Dauphin Island?
Dauphin Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Dauphin Island?
By FEMA money that reached Dauphin Island, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 631 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $4.6M to the Town of Dauphin Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 792 paid, $50.2M.
Is Dauphin Island at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (41%), and Dauphin Island’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dauphin Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dauphin Island’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.