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CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Springville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Springville faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #118 of 187 in Alabama. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2015.

River and rain flooding 74%Tornadoes 21%Earthquakes 3%

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

more than 70%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#118 of 187 in Alabama
Hazard risk
C#118 of 187
in Alabama · higher than 70% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
74% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1
paid since 2015 · $68K
Disasters paid out here
6
of 27 declared for St. Clair County
By hazard

What Springville 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

74%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

21%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Hail Wildfire Hurricanes Ice storms Landslides top 4% Lightning Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 31% of Springville’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (20.8%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Springville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Springville, and Springville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 21%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Springville sits
Springville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #118 of 187 in Alabama; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Springville’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding74%Tornadoes21%Earthquakes3%Everything else3%

The typical Alabama town has higher expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Springville has more expected damage per building than 63% of Alabama towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Springville: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Springville covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Springville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2015

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Springville, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims2015
20152026
Biggest named events
  • The Early winter storms1 claim · $68K
1
paid claims since 2015
$68K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$68K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Springville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: St. Clair County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
23storm safe rooms built
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Springville

Disasters that paid out in Springville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Springville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$75K to the City of Springville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding17 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding47 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan7 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  5. 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$3K to the City of Springville for repairs
  6. 2001Severe Storms and Tornadoes$3K to the City of Springville for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SpringvilleSt. Clair County only

St. Clair County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.

Were you here?

Old photos of Springville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Springville archive →
Next door

Springville and its neighbors

Springville is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Odenville: hazard risk C+Argo: hazard risk C+OdenvilleArgoSpringville
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
OdenvilleC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding3
ArgoC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding1
SpringvilleCmore damage than 70%river and rain flooding1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Springville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Springville

Is Springville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springville has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #118 of 187 in Alabama. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Springville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Springville since 2015, $68K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Early winter storms (1).

Is Springville 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 St. Clair County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Springville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Springville’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 Springville?

By FEMA money that reached Springville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): $75K to the City of Springville for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 1 paid, $68K.

Is Springville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Springville’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Springville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Springville’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.