Old Pell City Historic District · Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Holtville than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holtville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #135 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). 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 Holtville 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 Holtville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holtville, and Holtville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #135 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holtville’s residents live in 4 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, Holtville has more expected damage per building than 72% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Holtville: $975K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holtville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Holtville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Holtville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Elmore County.The storms Holtville remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Elmore County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Holtville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Elmore County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Get ready for what Holtville 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 Holtville
Is Holtville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holtville has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #135 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Holtville 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 Elmore County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holtville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holtville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Holtville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Holtville’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holtville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holtville’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.