Water Damage Restoration in Birmingham, AL

First Steps for Water in a Home in Birmingham

• Storm flooding: wait until the water stops rising and officials allow re-entry; wear boots and gloves (flooding steps).
• Stay clear of wet outlets and cords.
• Photograph the damage, then call your insurer.

How Often Birmingham Floods

The 7 counties of the Birmingham metro area logged flooding on 66 days from 2016 to 2025 (108 NOAA reports), July most often.

At the Mountain Brook 1.7 N gauge, June is the wettest month with 6 inches on average.

Hurricanes, tropical storms or storm surge added 4 report days.

Freezing Nights in Birmingham

Birmingham averages 47 nights a year at or below 32°F (Birmingham Airport station). About 6 of them drop to 20°F or colder. NOAA counted 7 winter storm, ice or extreme cold days in the 7 counties of the Birmingham metro area from 2016 to 2025.

Unheated crawl spaces, attics and garages freeze first (Red Cross); keep the heat at 55°F or more (IBHS).

Storms and Disasters in Birmingham

The 7 counties of the Birmingham metro area were named in 13 federal weather or fire declarations since 2016 (OpenFEMA).

Notable NOAA storm reports

• July 24, 2026: Flash flood (Jefferson County)The observation of Village Creek at Pratt City was 10.03 feet at 4:30 pm CDT and crested at 10.97 feet by 5:15 pm.
• May 9, 2024: Hail, 4.5 inch hail (Blount County)Social media images from two locations approximately one mile apart showed measured hailstones of 4 to 4.5 inches in diameter in the Holly Springs community.
• January 3, 2023: Thunderstorm wind, 81 mph gust (Walker County)National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northeast Walker County on Lewis Smith Lake and determined that it was consistent with a microburst event, with maximum winds near 80 mph.
• March 30, 2022: Tornado, EF3 (Bibb County)National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Bibb County and determined that it was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum winds near 145 mph.
• October 29, 2020: Tropical storm (Chilton County)Numerous trees uprooted and power lines downed across the county.

Federal disaster declarations

• September 26, 2024: Hurricane HeleneHurricane, FEMA EM-3618
• December 21, 2021: Severe Storms And FloodingSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4632
• April 26, 2021: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And TornadoesSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4596
• December 10, 2020: Hurricane ZetaHurricane, FEMA DR-4573
• September 14, 2020: Hurricane SallyHurricane, FEMA EM-3545
• July 10, 2020: Severe ThunderstormsSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4555
• July 10, 2020: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And TornadoesSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4554
• May 21, 2020: Severe Storms And FloodingSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4546

Birmingham Housing at a Glance

Census figures for the city of Birmingham (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024): 109,349 housing units, a median build year of 1965, 72% built before 1980, 58% before 1970, 46% owner occupied.

Alabama Insurance Help for Water Claims

Claim problems in Alabama go to the Alabama Department of Insurance.

Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, which typically starts 30 days after purchase (FloodSmart). Look up Birmingham flood zones on FEMA's flood maps.

Restoration Cost Guide for Birmingham

Sources: Bob Vila, May 2023; III, 2019 to 2023.

Areas Served Around Birmingham

The same 24/7 line covers the Birmingham metro area, including:

• Birmingham
• Hoover
• Vestavia Hills
• Alabaster
• Homewood
• Trussville
• Pelham
• Bessemer
• Helena
• Mountain Brook

Other Alabama city guides

• Huntsville water damage restoration

Water damage restoration in all cities

Questions

When is the first freeze in Birmingham?

The median first night at or below 32°F is November 11 and the median last is March 21 at the Birmingham Airport station (NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020).

How fast does mold start?

Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours (EPA).