Natural Disasters in Birmingham, AL

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

90.3

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

91.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

16.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

74.0

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

38

Public Assistance

$62.3M

Individual Assistance

$29.6M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

18 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $28.6M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Hurricane Helene ā†’HurricaneSep 2024ā€”ā€”
Severe Storms and Flooding ā†’Severe StormDec 2021ā€”$790K
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormApr 2021ā€”$171K
Hurricane Sally ā†’HurricaneSep 2020ā€”ā€”
Covid-19 Pandemic ā†’BiologicalMar 2020$5.1M$10.1M
Covid-19 ā†’BiologicalMar 2020ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Nate ā†’HurricaneOct 2017ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Irma ā†’HurricaneSep 2017$4Kā€”
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe Storm(s)Jan 2016$15Kā€”
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormMay 2014$6.1M$114K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormFeb 2012ā€”$8K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormApr 2011$33.5M$7.7M
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-lā€¦ ā†’Severe StormApr 2011ā€”ā€”
Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and ā€¦ ā†’Severe StormMay 2009$827Kā€”
Hurricane Gustav ā†’HurricaneAug 2008ā€”ā€”
Severe Storms and Tornadoes ā†’Severe StormMar 2007ā€”$4K
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation ā†’HurricaneSep 2005ā€”ā€”
Hurricane Katrina ā†’HurricaneAug 2005$2.5Mā€”
Hurricane Dennis ā†’HurricaneJul 2005$1.1Mā€”
Hurricane Ivan ā†’HurricaneSep 2004$6.6M$6.6M

Showing 20 of 46 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,880

Total Claims Paid

$47,400,531

Avg Claim Payout

$16,459

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

65

Federal Funding

$23,984,771

Properties Protected

705

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

4.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)16$835,928
206.1: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Private Structures15$523,937
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures14$657,011
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine8$18,888,570
95.1: FMA or CRS Plan5$50,000

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Birmingham has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, landslide, lightning. The area has had 38 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (18 declarations). 2,880 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $62,251,359 in public assistance recovery funding. $29,629,846 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 65 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.