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Downtown Gazebo Buda Texas 2024Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Buda · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Buda as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buda gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #325 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 2013.

River and rain flooding 76%Hail 10%Tornadoes 9%

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 51%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#325 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
B−#325 of 642
in Texas · higher than 51% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
76% of expected building damage
Flood claims
22
paid since 2013 · $925K
Flooded more than once
4
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 18 declared for Hays County
By hazard

What Buda 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

76%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hail

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

9%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Wildfire Hurricanes Winter storms Earthquakes Ice storms Cold waves Lightning Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 23% of Buda’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (9.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Buda’s grade

River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Buda, and Buda’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Buda sits
Buda
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #325 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Buda’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding76%Hail10%Tornadoes9%Everything else5%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Buda has more expected damage per building than 51% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Buda: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Buda’s 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 Buda flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 2013

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Buda, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 11 claims2016: 8 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims201520162019
20132026
Biggest named events
  • The Fall severe storms11 claims · $623K
  • The Early summer severe storms8 claims · $194K
22
paid claims since 2013
$925K
paid to owners
4
homes flooded more than once
$42K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Buda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hays County.
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Buda

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

  1. 2023Severe Winter Storm$105K to the City of Buda for repairs
  2. 2021Severe Winter Storms243 households applied for aid$92K aid approved$40K to the City of Buda for repairs
  3. 2017Hurricane Harvey3 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
  4. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$6K aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding121 households applied for aid$382K aid approved$209K to the City of Buda for repairs
  6. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding12 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
Show all 7
  1. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$37K to the City of Buda for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BudaHays County only

Hays County has had 18 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Hays County, 2000–2008.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Buda archive →
Next door

Buda and its neighbors

Buda is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Kyle: hazard risk B−Austin: hazard risk BKyleAustinBuda
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
AustinBless damage than 57%river and rain flooding2,221
KyleB−more damage than 50%river and rain flooding5
BudaB−more damage than 51%river and rain flooding22

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Buda 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 ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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.
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 Buda

Is Buda at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buda has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #325 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hail (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Buda flood?

Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Buda since 2013, $925K in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Fall severe storms (11).

Is Buda 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 Hays County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Buda?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Buda’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 Buda?

By FEMA money that reached Buda, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): 121 households applied for aid, $382K approved, and $209K to the City of Buda for repairs. By flood claims, Fall severe storms: 11 paid, $623K.

Is Buda at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Buda’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Buda.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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