Natural hazards · Saraland

Saraland, AL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Saraland comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 311 claims here since 1979. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Saraland?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Saraland to be higher than in 94% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding46%Hurricanes43%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Saraland faces

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

Inland flooding

46% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

43% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Saraland flood?

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

311paid claims since 1979

$3.7Mpaid to owners

45homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 45 claims, $1.1M
Hurricane Georges: 27 claims, $214K
Hurricane Gustav: 7 claims, $66K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (9) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Mobile County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Saraland

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SaralandDeclared for Mobile County only

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

6 households applied for aid

2020

Hurricane Zeta

174 households applied for aid $204K aid approved $8K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2020

Hurricane Sally

626 households applied for aid $761K aid approved $613K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2017

Hurricane Nate

$28K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2014

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

96 households applied for aid $101K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Gustav

$17K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

2,373 households applied for aid $2.1M aid approved $274K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

213 households applied for aid $66K aid approved $59K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

1,240 households applied for aid $963K aid approved $583K to the City of Saraland for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

186 households applied for aid $197K aid approved

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$3K to the City of Saraland for repairs

Mobile County has had 32 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Saraland

Saraland and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Saralandmostly inland floodingVery high

Satsumamostly hurricanesVery high

Chickasawmostly hurricanesVery high

Mobilemostly hurricanesVery high

Axismostly hurricanesVery high

Prichardmostly hurricanesVery high

Creolamostly hurricanesVery high

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. Saraland covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Saraland’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Saraland. 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 Saraland total about $10.8M 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.