Photo: Quentin Melson · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Shoals
Shoals isn’t graded for hazard risk: Shoals has 679 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1990.
What Shoals 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
Earthquakes
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.
Does Shoals flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shoals, from FEMA’s records.
Shoals isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Martin County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shoals
Disasters that paid out in Shoals itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shoals), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$23K to the Town of Shoals for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$13K to the Town of Shoals for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$3K to the Town of Shoals for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding81 households applied for aid$391K aid approved$20K to the Town of Shoals for repairs
- 2004Snow$1K to the Town of Shoals for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Martin County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Shoals after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shoals archive →Shoals and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Halbert Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Shoals 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Shoals
Does Shoals flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Shoals since 1990, $353 in all.
Is Shoals 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 Martin County, 2% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shoals?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shoals’ 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 Shoals?
By FEMA money that reached Shoals, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2005): 81 households applied for aid, $391K approved, and $20K to the Town of Shoals for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shoals.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shoals’ 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.