Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Byhalia’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 68% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Byhalia gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then earthquakes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2009.
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 Byhalia 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 Byhalia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Byhalia, and Byhalia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 12%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Byhalia’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $910K a year in losses across Byhalia: $580K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Byhalia flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Byhalia, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Byhalia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marshall County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Byhalia
Disasters that paid out in Byhalia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Byhalia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm622 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding11 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
Marshall County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Byhalia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Byhalia archive →Get ready for what Byhalia 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 Byhalia
Is Byhalia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Byhalia has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and earthquakes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Byhalia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Byhalia since 2009, $32K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Byhalia 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 Marshall County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Byhalia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Byhalia’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 Byhalia?
By FEMA money that reached Byhalia, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 622 households applied for aid, $1.9M approved.
Is Byhalia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Byhalia’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Byhalia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Byhalia’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.