Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Huntsville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntsville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #188 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 62 claims here since 1991.
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 Huntsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Huntsville 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
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 Huntsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Huntsville, and Huntsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Cold waves add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #188 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Huntsville’s residents live in 12 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Huntsville has less expected damage per building than 71% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.4M a year in losses across Huntsville: $6.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Huntsville flood? Sometimes: 62 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Huntsville, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Texas Spring Flooding29 claims · $2.1M
- Hurricane Harvey4 claims · $70K
- The Early summer severe storms2 claims · $10K
Huntsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Walker County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Huntsville
Disasters that paid out in Huntsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Huntsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl4,737 households applied for aid$4.8M aid approved$44K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,889 households applied for aid$11.1M aid approved$538K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms1,272 households applied for aid$644K aid approved$62K to the City of Huntsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$3K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1,672 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$179K to the City of Huntsville for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $70K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$379 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding242 households applied for aid$264K aid approved$58K to the City of Huntsville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike3,117 households applied for aid$674K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding25 households applied for aid$66K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,874 households applied for aid$898K aid approved$159K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$10K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$124K to the City of Huntsville for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding80 households applied for aid$164K aid approved
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$8K to the City of Huntsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Walker County has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Walker County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Huntsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Huntsville archive →Get ready for what Huntsville 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.
- 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 Huntsville
Is Huntsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntsville has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #188 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Huntsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 62 claims in Huntsville since 1991, $2.8M in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Texas Spring Flooding (29).
Is Huntsville 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 Walker County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Huntsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Huntsville’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 Huntsville?
By FEMA money that reached Huntsville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): 2,889 households applied for aid, $11.1M approved, and $538K to the City of Huntsville for repairs. By flood claims, Texas Spring Flooding: 29 paid, $2.1M.
Is Huntsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Huntsville’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Huntsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Huntsville’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.