Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Cibolo faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cibolo gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #298 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 32 claims here since 1997.
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 Cibolo 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
Tornadoes
Hail
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 Cibolo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cibolo, and Cibolo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #298 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cibolo’s residents live in 10 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, Cibolo has less expected damage per building than 54% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.5M a year in losses across Cibolo: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cibolo flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cibolo, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Allison10 claims · $495K
- Tropical Storm Bill1 claim · $21K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $2K
Cibolo isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Guadalupe County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cibolo
Disasters that paid out in Cibolo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cibolo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms239 households applied for aid$63K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$19K to the City of Cibolo for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Guadalupe 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.
Old photos of Cibolo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cibolo archive →Cibolo and its neighbors
Cibolo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cibolo | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Schertz | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Zuehl | — | 401 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| New Berlin | — | 633 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Cibolo 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Cibolo
Is Cibolo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cibolo has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #298 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cibolo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in Cibolo since 1997, $1.1M in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (10).
Is Cibolo 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 Guadalupe County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cibolo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cibolo’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 Cibolo?
By FEMA money that reached Cibolo, Severe Winter Storms (2021): 239 households applied for aid, $63K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 10 paid, $495K.
Is Cibolo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Cibolo’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cibolo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cibolo’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.