Photo: Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Carrizo Springs faces less hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrizo Springs gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #35 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1983.
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 Carrizo Springs 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.
What’s behind Carrizo Springs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carrizo Springs, and Carrizo Springs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A #35 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carrizo Springs’ residents live in 2 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, Carrizo Springs has less expected damage per building than 95% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Carrizo Springs: $509K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carrizo Springs flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carrizo Springs, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Imelda1 claim · $106K
- Hurricane Alicia1 claim · $45K
- Hurricane Harvey1 claim · $210K
Carrizo Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dimmit County.The storms Carrizo Springs remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Dimmit County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Carrizo Springs itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20134 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19831 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Freezing Weather, declared for Dimmit County
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Dimmit County has had 13 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 Dimmit County, 2008–2008.
Old photos of Carrizo Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carrizo Springs archive →Get ready for what Carrizo Springs 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 Carrizo Springs
Is Carrizo Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrizo Springs has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #35 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carrizo Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Carrizo Springs since 1983, $517K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Imelda (1).
Is Carrizo Springs 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 Dimmit County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Carrizo Springs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carrizo Springs’ 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 Carrizo Springs?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Imelda: 1 paid, $106K.
Is Carrizo Springs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Carrizo Springs’ rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carrizo Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carrizo Springs’ 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.