Natural Disasters in Shelby, 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

Public Assistance

$2.9M

Individual Assistance

$164K

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

9 declarations

Disaster	Type	Date	PA $	IA $
Hurricane Helene →	Hurricane	Sep 2024	—	—
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Dec 2021	—	$4K
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes →	Severe Storm	Apr 2021	$1.5M	$2K
Hurricane Sally →	Hurricane	Sep 2020	—	—
Covid-19 Pandemic →	Biological	Mar 2020	$350K	$39K
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Hurricane Nate →	Hurricane	Oct 2017	—	—
Hurricane Irma →	Hurricane	Sep 2017	—	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Apr 2011	$74K	$24K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds →	Severe Storm	Apr 2011	—	—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds →	Severe Storm(s)	May 2009	$11K	—
Hurricane Gustav →	Hurricane	Aug 2008	—	—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →	Hurricane	Sep 2005	—	—
Hurricane Katrina →	Hurricane	Aug 2005	$140K	—
Hurricane Dennis →	Hurricane	Jul 2005	$149K	—
Hurricane Ivan →	Hurricane	Sep 2004	$650K	$93K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	May 2003	$7K	$2K
Severe Storms and Tornadoes →	Severe Storm	Nov 2002	—	—
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Severe Storm(s)	Mar 2001	$32K	—
Al - Chelsea Fire - 09/18/99 →	Fire	Sep 1999	—	—

Showing 20 of 29 disasters

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

797

Total Claims Paid

$19,194,692

Avg Claim Payout

$24,084

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$23,984,771

Properties Protected

705

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

4.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
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 Structures	15	$523,937
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	14	$657,011
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	8	$18,888,570
95.1: FMA or CRS Plan	5	$50,000

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

Shelby 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 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (9 declarations). 797 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,936,705 in public assistance recovery funding. $164,149 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 65 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.