Photo: Billy Hathorn. Original uploader was Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Bay City faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #640 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (71%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 445 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 stands out about Bay City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bay City faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
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 Bay City’s grade
Hurricanes are 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bay City, and Bay City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 27% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
D #640 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bay City’s residents live in 8 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, Bay City has more expected damage per building than 100% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.0M a year in losses across Bay City: $10.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bay City flood? Yes: 445 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bay City, from FEMA’s records: 54.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey31 claims · $917K
- Tropical Storm Claudette24 claims · $75K
- Tropical Storm Imelda10 claims · $194K
Bay City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Matagorda County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bay City
Disasters that paid out in Bay City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bay City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl4,592 households applied for aid$5.9M aid approved$590K to the City of Bay City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $12K
- 2021Severe Winter Storms526 households applied for aid$297K aid approved$109K to the City of Bay City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey6,333 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$1.5M to the City of Bay City for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $917K
- 2008Hurricane Ike336 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$145K to the City of Bay City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2005Hurricane Rita3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$54K to the City of Bay City for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$23K to the City of Bay City for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Hurricane Claudette750 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$35K to the City of Bay City for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $75K
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$14K to the City of Bay City for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
Matagorda County has had 23 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 Bay City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bay City archive →Bay City and its neighbors
Bay City is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Vleck | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | — |
| Bay City | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 445 |
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 Bay City faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Bay City
Is Bay City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay City has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #640 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (71%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bay City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 445 claims in Bay City since 1979, $4.3M in all, or 54.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 41 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (31).
Is Bay City 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 Matagorda County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 15.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bay City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bay City’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 Bay City?
By FEMA money that reached Bay City, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 4,592 households applied for aid, $5.9M approved, and $590K to the City of Bay City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 31 paid, $917K.
Is Bay City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Bay City’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bay City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bay City’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.