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BellaireWaterTowerPhoto: WhisperToMe · Public domain
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Bellaire · FEMA

FEMA puts Bellaire’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellaire gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 2,813 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 84%Hurricanes 14%Tornadoes 2%

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

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
D−#641 of 642
in Texas · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
84% of expected building damage
Flood claims
2,813
paid since 1979 · $258M
Flooded more than once
235
properties · 31 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Bellaire’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

2,813 paid flood claims since 1979$258M in all; 235 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 99% of U.S. towns.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Bellaire residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Remembers 20171,938 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Bellaire 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

84%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

14%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Ice storms Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Bellaire’s grade

River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bellaire, and Bellaire’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 14% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Bellaire sits
Bellaire
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #641 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Bellaire’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding84%Hurricanes14%Everything else2%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bellaire has more expected damage per building than 100% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.9M a year in losses across Bellaire: $21.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, FEMA took 2,244 aid registrations from Bellaire addresses (the town has 6,641 homes) and flood insurance paid 1,929 claims for $228M.
A small-area figure. Bellaire covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Bellaire flood? Yes: 2,813 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bellaire, from FEMA’s records: 423.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 21 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 10 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 14 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 3 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 4 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 1 claim1994: 25 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 3 claims1997: 6 claims1998: 3 claims1999: 3 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 473 claims2002: 3 claims2003: 9 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 2 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 16 claims2009: 2 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 20 claims2013: 4 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 199 claims2016: 42 claims2017: 1,938 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 3 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim200120152017
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Harvey1,929 claims · $228M
  • Tropical Storm Allison474 claims · $15.9M
  • The Early summer storms193 claims · $9.9M
2,813
paid claims since 1979
$258M
paid to owners
235
homes flooded more than once
$92K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 4 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (31)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Bellaire is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Harris County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bellaire

Disasters that paid out in Bellaire itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bellaire), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Beryl778 households applied for aid$443K aid approved$790K to the City of Bellaire for repairs
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding49 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms125 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$105K to the City of Bellaire for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$46K to the City of Bellaire for repairs
  5. 2017Hurricane Harvey2,244 households applied for aid$6.8M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Bellaire for repairs1,929 flood claims paid for it, $228M
  6. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$33K aid approved42 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding137 households applied for aid$406K aid approved$177K to the City of Bellaire for repairs199 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2008Hurricane Ike486 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$1.8M to the City of Bellaire for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $394K
  3. 2005Hurricane Rita27 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$138K to the City of Bellaire for repairs
  4. 2005Hurricane Rita$15K to the City of Bellaire for repairs
  5. 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$584K to the City of Bellaire for repairs474 flood claims paid for it, $15.9M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BellaireHarris County only

Harris County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Harris County, 2011–2011.

Were you here?

Old photos of Bellaire after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Bellaire archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Bellaire faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Bellaire residents get 15% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Bellaire

Is Bellaire at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellaire has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Bellaire flood?

Flood insurance has paid 2,813 claims in Bellaire since 1979, $258M in all, or 423.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 235 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (1,929).

Is Bellaire 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 Harris County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Bellaire?

Bellaire is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Bellaire?

By FEMA money that reached Bellaire, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 2,244 households applied for aid, $6.8M approved, and $2.4M to the City of Bellaire for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 1,929 paid, $228M.

Is Bellaire at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Bellaire’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bellaire.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bellaire’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.