Orange Beach, AL Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Orange Beach is a Baldwin County Gulf Coast resort town adjacent to Gulf Shores with extensive VE and AE zone coverage. Hurricane Sally in 2020 caused significant flooding from both storm surge and heavy rainfall.
Baldwin County has recorded 19,745 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $652.5M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 4
NFIP Policies
28,941
Baldwin County
Avg. Premium
$654/yr
Baldwin County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Baldwin County
Properties in Baldwin County have filed 19,745 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $652.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $33K.
Highest-Claim Years
2004
5,411 claims - $328.4M
2020
3,199 claims - $121.2M
2005
2,592 claims - $73.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Baldwin County
Only roughly 1 in 3 households in Baldwin County carries NFIP flood insurance (32% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
32%
roughly 1 in 3 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
19,745 claims over 45+ years across 28,941 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$33,044
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Baldwin County has averaged 1 claim for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Orange Beach.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Baldwin County
Baldwin County has 2,508 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 316 severe repetitive loss properties. 146 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
2,508
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
316
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
146
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 2,505 of 2,508 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Orange Beach
Orange Beach participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 6
SFHA Premium Discount
20% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Orange Beach's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Baldwin County
Baldwin County has been included in 25 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 17 earlier declarations since 1995.
These declarations affected communities across Baldwin County, including Orange Beach.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Baldwin County
NOAA has recorded 134 flood events in Baldwin County since 1996, causing $30.5M in damage and 2 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Baldwin County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 143 properties in Baldwin County, investing $38.3M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Baldwin County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $48.3M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $4.1M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $159.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Orange Beach
Orange Beach is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Orange Beach are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $48.3M. Properties in Orange Beach's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Orange Beach are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Orange Beach address.
Orange Beach, AL Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Orange Beach, AL?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Orange Beach are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Orange Beach?
If your Orange Beach property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Orange Beach?
Enter your Orange Beach address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Orange Beach offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Orange Beach participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Orange Beach experienced major flooding events?
Baldwin County, where Orange Beach is located, has been part of 25 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Helene in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Orange Beach?
Baldwin County has recorded 19,745 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $652.5M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2004, with 5,411 claims and $328.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Orange Beach.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Orange Beach?
Baldwin County had 28,941 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $654. The most policies are in Zone AE (15,854 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Orange Beach properties have flooded repeatedly?
Baldwin County has 2,508 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 316 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Orange Beach property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Orange Beach?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Orange Beach's Zone VE and Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Alabama Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Orange Beach, AL Address
Enter a Orange Beach, AL address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.