Does West Hill flood?
West Hill, Mobile, AL · ZIP codes 36608 and 36660: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around West Hill have filed flood claims. About 5.4% of West Hill’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 43 claims from the Census block groups that cover West Hill, from 1978 through 2009. 33 of them received a payment, totaling $1,071,067 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1979 (12 claims), 1980 (9 claims), 1981 (7 claims).
What this page counts as West Hill
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for West Hill, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, West Hill means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies within 1.6 km (1.0 miles) of the U.S. Geological Survey (GNIS) map point for West Hill (feature 128783), each block group going to the nearest of the places we cover. Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call West Hill. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in West Hill
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in West Hill
The named streets in West Hill, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside West Hill lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside West Hill; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 35 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Blvd | 2.5 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Old Shell Rd | 1.1 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| S University Blvd | 1.0 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hillsdale Rd | 5,130 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hillcrest Rd | 4,450 ft | 1.3% | X (unshaded, minimal) (99%) |
| Usa Dr N | 4,310 ft | 21% | X (unshaded, minimal) (79%) |
| N University Blvd | 4,310 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Stadium Blvd | 3,870 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Bit and Spur Rd | 3,620 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Usa Dr S | 3,530 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| General Bullard Ave | 3,320 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| East Dr | 2,690 ft | 2.2% | X (unshaded, minimal) (98%) |
| West Dr | 2,350 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Long St | 2,160 ft | 11% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Long Ct | 2,160 ft | 11% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Westfield Ave | 1,970 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hospital Dr | 1,890 ft | 17% | X (unshaded, minimal) (82%) |
| Center Dr | 1,880 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Cleverdon Pkwy | 1,840 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Evergreen Rd | 1,830 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Highland Woods Dr W | 1,800 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| E Cumberland Rd | 1,790 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Highland Woods Dr E | 1,770 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rosewood Dr | 1,640 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| N Shenandoah Rd | 1,570 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved October 25, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in West Hill
Share of West Hill’s mapped area (about 4.753 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (01097C0529L, 01097C0533L, 01097C0537L, 01097C0541L): June 5, 2020.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 94% |
| AE | 5.4% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 0.7% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover West Hill. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16 | $169,984 |
| 1980s | 18 | $52,285 |
| 1990s | 2 | $4,641 |
| 2000s | 7 | $844,157 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Frederic: 9 claims
- Flooding: 7 claims
- Hurricane Ivan: 3 claims
- Hurricane Katrina: 2 claims
- Hurricane Georges: 1 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 28
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 12
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 2
- Other (D): 1
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Before you rent or buy in West Hill
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in West Hill
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare West Hill with other Mobile neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Mobile on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does West Hill flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around West Hill have filed flood claims. About 5.4% of West Hill’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 43 claims from the Census block groups that cover West Hill, from 1978 through 2009. 33 of them received a payment, totaling $1,071,067 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1979 (12 claims), 1980 (9 claims), 1981 (7 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is West Hill in a flood zone?
About 5.4% of West Hill’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 94%; AE 5.4%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 0.7%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect June 5, 2020.
Which streets in West Hill are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of Airport Blvd, Old Shell Rd, S University Blvd, Hillsdale Rd, Hillcrest Rd, N University Blvd, Stadium Blvd and Bit and Spur Rd does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is West Hill in?
West Hill is in Mobile, AL. ZIP codes 36608 and 36660: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Regency flood?
- Does Jackson Heights flood?
- Timbers
- Does Country Club Village flood?
- Does Huntleigh Woods flood?
- Forest Hill
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Mobile County (county code 01097), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 010970036051, 010970036062, 010970036061. Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and October 25, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 25, 2026.