Natural hazards · Jackson

Jackson, AL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jackson comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1980. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Jackson?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jackson to be higher than in 80% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes52%Inland flooding22%Tornadoes12%Cold waves6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Jackson faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

52% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

22% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 32% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 35 years in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Jackson flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jackson, from FEMA’s records.

2paid claims since 1980

$2Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19802026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Jackson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Clarke County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Jackson

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Jackson itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Jackson.

Brought FEMA money into JacksonDeclared for Clarke County only

2020

Hurricane Zeta

800 households applied for aid $1.5M aid approved $311K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2020

Hurricane Sally

4 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

391 households applied for aid $433K aid approved

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

$6K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2009

Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-Line

$42K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

873 households applied for aid $886K aid approved $103K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

$50K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

1,717 households applied for aid $2.8M aid approved $739K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

588 households applied for aid $811K aid approved

Clarke County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Jackson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Jackson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Jackson. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Jackson total about $2.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.