Benjamin House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Shelbina 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, Shelbina gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (12%). 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 Shelbina 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
Hail
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 Shelbina’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shelbina, and Shelbina’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shelbina’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Shelbina: $502K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shelbina flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shelbina. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Shelbina isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Shelby County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shelbina
Disasters that paid out in Shelbina itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Shelbina), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the City of Shelbina for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$76K to the City of Shelbina for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the City of Shelbina for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$107K to the City of Shelbina for repairs
Shelby County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Shelbina after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shelbina archive →Get ready for what Shelbina 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Shelbina
Is Shelbina at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelbina has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (12%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Shelbina 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 Shelby County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shelbina?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shelbina’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 Shelbina?
By FEMA money that reached Shelbina, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $107K to the City of Shelbina for repairs.
Is Shelbina at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Shelbina’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shelbina.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shelbina’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.