Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Houston than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Houston gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 64 claims here since 1979.
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 Houston 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
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 Houston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Houston, and Houston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Houston’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $422K a year in losses across Houston: $391K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Houston flood? Sometimes: 64 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Houston, from FEMA’s records: 97.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan16 claims · $527K
Houston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Houston
Disasters that paid out in Houston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Houston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan119 households applied for aid$654K aid approved16 flood claims paid for it, $527K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances5 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
Washington County has had 11 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 Houston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Houston archive →Houston and its neighbors
Houston is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Strabane Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Chartiers Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Canonsburg | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Houston | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| McGovern | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Strabane | — | 605 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Midland | — | 196 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Houston 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.
- 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 Houston
Is Houston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Houston has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Houston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 64 claims in Houston since 1979, $1.7M in all, or 97.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (16).
Is Houston 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 Washington County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Houston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Houston’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 Houston?
By FEMA money that reached Houston, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 119 households applied for aid, $654K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 16 paid, $527K.
Is Houston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Houston’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Houston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Houston’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.