Natural hazards · Newton

Newton, AL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Newton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1994. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Newton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Newton to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding39%Hurricanes28%Tornadoes17%Cold waves7%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Newton faces

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

Inland flooding

39% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Hurricanes

28% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 20 years in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Newton flood?

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

8paid claims since 1994

$326Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19942026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Alberto: 3 claims, $121K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Dale County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

8storm safe rooms built

2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Newton

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NewtonDeclared for Dale County only

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

$7K to the Town of Newton for repairs

2009

Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-Line

13 households applied for aid $14K aid approved

2007

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid $221 aid approved

2004

Hurricane Ivan

21 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $3K to the Town of Newton for repairs

2002

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid $1K aid approved

Dale County has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

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. Newton is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Newton, AL natural hazards

How exposed is Newton?

What Newton faces

Inland flooding

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Newton flood?

Biggest named events

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes & Straight-Line

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Hurricane Ivan

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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