Photo: Shannon from New York · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Rainsville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rainsville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #37 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2020.
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 Rainsville 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
Earthquakes
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 Rainsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rainsville, and Rainsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 13% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #37 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rainsville’s residents live in 3 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, Rainsville has less expected damage per building than 81% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Rainsville: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rainsville flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rainsville, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rainsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: DeKalb County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rainsville
Disasters that paid out in Rainsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rainsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Severe Thunderstorms$65K to the City of Rainsville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding600 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$62K to the City of Rainsville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Ivan5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$837 aid approved
- 2000Severe Winter Storms$13K to the City of Rainsville for repairs
DeKalb County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in DeKalb County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Rainsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rainsville archive →Rainsville and its neighbors
Rainsville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainsville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Sylvania | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pine Ridge | — | 506 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Shiloh | — | 383 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Powell | — | 912 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Rainsville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Rainsville
Is Rainsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rainsville has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #37 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rainsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Rainsville since 2020, $55K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Rainsville 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 DeKalb County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rainsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rainsville’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 Rainsville?
By FEMA money that reached Rainsville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2011): 600 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $62K to the City of Rainsville for repairs.
Is Rainsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Rainsville’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rainsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rainsville’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.