Photo: Rivers Langley · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Smiths Station than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smiths Station gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #8 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). 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 stands out about Smiths Station’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Smiths Station 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
Hurricanes
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 Smiths Station’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Smiths Station, and Smiths Station’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B #8 of 187 in Alabama; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Smiths Station’s residents live in 7 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, Smiths Station has less expected damage per building than 96% of Alabama towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Smiths Station: $865K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Smiths Station flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Smiths Station. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Smiths Station isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lee County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Smiths Station
Disasters that paid out in Smiths Station itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Smiths Station), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes202 households applied for aid$250K aid approved$10K to the City of Smiths Station for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding26 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Ivan8 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding31 households applied for aid$229K aid approved
Lee County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Smiths Station after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smiths Station archive →Smiths Station and its neighbors
Smiths Station 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smiths Station | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Phenix City | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Smiths Station 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.
- 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.
- 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 Smiths Station
Is Smiths Station at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smiths Station has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #8 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Smiths Station 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 Lee County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smiths Station?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smiths Station’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 Smiths Station?
By FEMA money that reached Smiths Station, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2019): 202 households applied for aid, $250K approved, and $10K to the City of Smiths Station for repairs.
Is Smiths Station at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Smiths Station’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smiths Station.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smiths Station’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.