Photo: Photo taken by Marcusscotus1. · Public domainFEMA puts Cedar Hill’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Hill gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Cedar Hill faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Cedar Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cedar Hill, and Cedar Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cedar Hill’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Cedar Hill: $684K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cedar Hill flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cedar Hill. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cedar Hill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cedar Hill
Disasters that paid out in Cedar Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to Cedar Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding78 households applied for aid$349K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding22 households applied for aid$54K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding32 households applied for aid$106K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Jefferson County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cedar Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cedar Hill archive →Get ready for what Cedar Hill faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Cedar Hill
Is Cedar Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Hill has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cedar Hill in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Jefferson County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cedar Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cedar Hill’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Cedar Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Cedar Hill, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2017): 78 households applied for aid, $349K approved.
Is Cedar Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Cedar Hill’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cedar Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cedar Hill’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.