Cleburne County Courthouse · Photo: Wruple · CC BY-SA 3.0For tornadoes, Heflin’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Heflin gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #77 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then tornadoes (22%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Heflin 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
Tornadoes
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 Heflin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Heflin, and Heflin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 22%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #77 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Heflin’s residents live in 2 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, Heflin has less expected damage per building than 59% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Heflin: $890K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Heflin flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Heflin. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Heflin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cleburne County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Heflin
Disasters that paid out in Heflin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Heflin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$15K to the City of Heflin for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan$15K to the City of Heflin for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding29 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$49K to the City of Heflin for repairs
Cleburne County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Heflin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Heflin archive →Get ready for what Heflin faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Heflin
Is Heflin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Heflin has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #77 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Heflin 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 Cleburne County, 2% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Heflin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Heflin’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 Heflin?
By FEMA money that reached Heflin, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2003): 29 households applied for aid, $27K approved, and $49K to the City of Heflin for repairs.
Is Heflin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Heflin’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Heflin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Heflin’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.