FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Beach City than in 65% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beach City gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #438 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then hurricanes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1981.
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 Beach City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Beach City 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
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 Beach City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beach City, and Beach City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #438 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Beach City’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Beach City has more expected damage per building than 68% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Beach City: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beach City flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beach City, from FEMA’s records: 27.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike14 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Harvey12 claims · $486K
- Hurricane Alicia4 claims · $13K
Beach City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Chambers County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beach City
Disasters that paid out in Beach City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beach City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl156 households applied for aid$178K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms11 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey85 households applied for aid$103K aid approved12 flood claims paid for it, $486K
- 2008Hurricane Ike325 households applied for aid$172K aid approved14 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2005Hurricane Rita67 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
Chambers County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Beach City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beach City archive →Beach City and its neighbors
Beach City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach City | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Baytown | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 2,678 |
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 Beach 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Beach City residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Beach City
Is Beach City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beach City has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #438 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and hurricanes (37%). 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 Beach City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Beach City since 1981, $1.8M in all, or 27.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (14).
Is Beach 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 Chambers County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 22.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Beach City?
Beach City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Beach City?
By FEMA money that reached Beach City, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 156 households applied for aid, $178K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 14 paid, $1.2M.
Is Beach City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Beach City’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beach City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beach 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.