Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Austin faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Austin gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #257 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hail (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2,221 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Austin’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Austin 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
Hail
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 Austin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Austin, and Austin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 11%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #257 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Austin’s residents live in 256 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Austin has less expected damage per building than 60% of Texas towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Austin has lower expected damage per building than 69% (#125 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $267M, is the 23th largest of those 400.
Does Austin flood? Yes: 2,221 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Austin, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Fall severe storms189 claims · $8.4M
- The Early summer storms137 claims · $5.4M
- The Early summer severe storms23 claims · $802K
Austin is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Travis County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Austin
Disasters that paid out in Austin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Austin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding561 households applied for aid$917K aid approved22 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Winter Storm$36.3M to the City of Austin for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms10,843 households applied for aid$3.0M aid approved$1.9M to the City of Austin for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$2.0M to the City of Austin for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey27 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$500K to the City of Austin for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding95 households applied for aid$332K aid approved27 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding585 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$13.3M to the City of Austin for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding409 households applied for aid$654K aid approved$1.7M to the City of Austin for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$4.3M to the City of Austin for repairs457 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Wildfires47 households applied for aid$63K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding35 households applied for aid$58K aid approved30 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita2 households applied for aid$601K to the City of Austin for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$17.7M to the City of Austin for repairs
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$120K to the City of Austin for repairs105 flood claims paid that year
Its 3 counties have had 31 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.
Also 14 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 3 counties, 2000–2011.
Old photos of Austin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Austin archive →Austin and its neighbors
Austin is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Lake Hills | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Rollingwood | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Wells Branch | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cedar Park | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Barton Creek | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Round Rock | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 177 |
| Brushy Creek | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Austin | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2,221 |
| Manchaca | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lost Creek | — | 954 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| San Leanna | — | not graded yet | |
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 Austin 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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.
- Austin residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Austin
Is Austin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Austin has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #257 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hail (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Austin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,221 claims in Austin since 1978, $63.3M in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 319 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Fall severe storms (189).
Is Austin 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 Travis County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Austin?
Austin is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Austin?
By FEMA money that reached Austin, Severe Winter Storm (2023): $36.3M to the City of Austin for repairs. By flood claims, Fall severe storms: 189 paid, $8.4M.
Is Austin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Austin’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Austin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Austin’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.