Storms, floods and disasters in Bailey's Prairie
Bailey's Prairie isn’t graded for hazard risk: Bailey's Prairie has 708 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 134 claims here since 1984.
What Bailey's Prairie 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
Hurricanes
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.
Does Bailey's Prairie flood? Yes: 134 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bailey's Prairie, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Harvey69 claims · $7.2M
- The Early summer severe storms29 claims · $2.2M
- Tropical Storm Paul1 claim · $38K
Bailey's Prairie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Brazoria County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bailey's Prairie
Disasters that paid out in Bailey's Prairie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Bailey's Prairie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Harvey4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved69 flood claims paid for it, $7.2M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$20K aid approved32 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike$13K to the Village of Bailey's Prairie for repairs
Brazoria County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bailey's Prairie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bailey's Prairie archive →Get ready for what Bailey's Prairie 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Bailey's Prairie
Does Bailey's Prairie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 134 claims in Bailey's Prairie since 1984, $9.8M in all. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (69).
Is Bailey's Prairie 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 Brazoria County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 22.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bailey's Prairie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bailey's Prairie’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 Bailey's Prairie?
By FEMA money that reached Bailey's Prairie, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 3 households applied for aid, $20K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 69 paid, $7.2M.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bailey's Prairie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bailey's Prairie’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.