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100s Main St Hartselle Feb 2012 01Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Hartselle · FEMA

FEMA puts Hartselle’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartselle gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #136 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 68%Tornadoes 17%Earthquakes 12%

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 76%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#136 of 187 in Alabama
Hazard risk
C−#136 of 187
in Alabama · higher than 76% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
68% of expected building damage
Flood claims
33
paid since 1978 · $662K
Flooded more than once
6
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
5
of 21 declared for Morgan County

What stands out about Hartselle’s natural hazards

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

Made safer with FEMA grants38 storm safe rooms built; 1 flood-prone home bought out and moved with FEMA grants.Remembers 200913 flood claims were paid for 2009 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Hartselle 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

68%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

Earthquakes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Hurricanes Hail Lightning top 1% Ice storms Cold waves Wildfire Winter storms Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 35% of Hartselle’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (17.0%), 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 Hartselle’s grade

River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hartselle, and Hartselle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Hartselle sits
Hartselle
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #136 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Hartselle’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding68%Tornadoes17%Earthquakes12%Everything else4%

The typical Alabama town has higher expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hartselle has more expected damage per building than 73% of Alabama towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.3M a year in losses across Hartselle: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Hartselle’s 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 Hartselle flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hartselle, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 2 claims1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 2 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 1 claim1989: 0 claims1990: 2 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 2 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 13 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 2 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 4 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197820092015
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Early winter storms3 claims · $192K
  • Hurricane Georges1 claim · $9K
  • Hurricane Danny1 claim · $685
33
paid claims since 1978
$662K
paid to owners
6
homes flooded more than once
$20K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Morgan County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
38storm safe rooms built
1flood-prone home bought out and moved
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hartselle

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

  1. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$129K to the City of Hartselle for repairs
  2. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$976 aid approved
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding283 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$24K to the City of Hartselle for repairs
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  5. 1998Riv-severe Winter Wx 12/23/98$27K to the City of Hartselle for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in HartselleMorgan County only

Morgan County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Hartselle archive →
Next door

Hartselle and its neighbors

Hartselle is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Falkville: hazard risk C−Decatur: hazard risk CFalkvilleDecaturHartselle
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
DecaturCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding82
HartselleC−more damage than 76%river and rain flooding33
FalkvilleC−more damage than 81%river and rain flooding4

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Hartselle 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
  • A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
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 Hartselle

Is Hartselle at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartselle has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #136 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Hartselle flood?

Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Hartselle since 1978, $662K in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (3).

Is Hartselle 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 Morgan County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Hartselle?

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

By FEMA money that reached Hartselle, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2023): $129K to the City of Hartselle for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 3 paid, $192K.

Is Hartselle at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Hartselle’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hartselle.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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