Orange Beach, Alabama Flood Zones
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.
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.
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 February 2026.
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 - $121.3M
2005
2,592 claims - $73.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
7,334
Zone A
4,743
Zone VE
2,812
Zone X
2,538
Zone V
2,223
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Orange Beach
Properties in Orange Beach, AL are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
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.
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, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Orange Beach Address
Enter any Orange Beach, AL address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupOrange 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
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.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026