Jacob Magee House · Photo: Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Prichard’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prichard gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #165 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (61%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 136 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 Prichard’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Prichard 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 Prichard’s grade
Hurricanes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prichard, and Prichard’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 36% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
D #165 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Prichard’s residents live in 17 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, Prichard has more expected damage per building than 88% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Prichard: $10.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prichard flood? Yes: 136 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Prichard, from FEMA’s records: 15.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Georges10 claims · $42K
- Hurricane Danny9 claims · $85K
- Hurricane Ivan5 claims · $17K
Prichard isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mobile County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prichard
Disasters that paid out in Prichard itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Prichard), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes19 households applied for aid$26K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta546 households applied for aid$757K aid approved$24K to the City of Prichard for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Sally1,863 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved$914K to the City of Prichard for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$32K to the City of Prichard for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding654 households applied for aid$384K aid approved$84K to the City of Prichard for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$49K to the City of Prichard for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$22K to the City of Prichard for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $52K
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,826 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$218K to the City of Prichard for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $49K
- 2005Hurricane Dennis398 households applied for aid$81K aid approved$38K to the City of Prichard for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan2,377 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$514K to the City of Prichard for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $17K
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,911 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$9K to the City of Prichard for repairs
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 Prichard after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prichard archive →Prichard and its neighbors
Prichard has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Prichard 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 Prichard
Is Prichard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prichard has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #165 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (61%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Prichard flood?
Flood insurance has paid 136 claims in Prichard since 1979, $901K in all, or 15.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Georges (10).
Is Prichard 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 Prichard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prichard’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 Prichard?
By FEMA money that reached Prichard, Hurricane Sally (2020): 1,863 households applied for aid, $3.8M approved, and $914K to the City of Prichard for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Georges: 10 paid, $42K.
Is Prichard at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Prichard’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prichard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prichard’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.