FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Clear Lake Shores than in 70% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clear Lake Shores gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then hurricanes (39%). Flood insurance has paid 1,056 claims here since 1979.
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 Clear Lake Shores’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clear Lake Shores 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
Coastal flooding
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 Clear Lake Shores’ grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clear Lake Shores, and Clear Lake Shores’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 9%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clear Lake Shores’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $776K a year in losses across Clear Lake Shores: $436K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clear Lake Shores flood? Yes: 1,056 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clear Lake Shores, from FEMA’s records: 1,808.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike346 claims · $16.8M
- Hurricane Alicia144 claims · $1.8M
- Tropical Storm Claudette141 claims · $1.6M
Clear Lake Shores isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Galveston County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clear Lake Shores
Disasters that paid out in Clear Lake Shores itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clear Lake Shores), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl46 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$27K to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey113 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$275K to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs92 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
- 2008Hurricane Ike339 households applied for aid$797K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs346 flood claims paid for it, $16.8M
- 2005Hurricane Rita62 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$16K to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$13K to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Claudette$5K to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs141 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
Galveston County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Clear Lake Shores after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clear Lake Shores archive →Clear Lake Shores and its neighbors
Clear Lake Shores is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kemah | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,167 |
| Clear Lake Shores | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1,056 |
| Seabrook | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2,458 |
| League City | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4,320 |
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 Clear Lake Shores 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Clear Lake Shores
Is Clear Lake Shores at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clear Lake Shores has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and hurricanes (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clear Lake Shores flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,056 claims in Clear Lake Shores since 1979, $27.1M in all, or 1,808.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 145 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (346).
Is Clear Lake Shores 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 Galveston County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 42.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clear Lake Shores?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clear Lake Shores’ 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 Clear Lake Shores?
By FEMA money that reached Clear Lake Shores, Hurricane Ike (2008): 339 households applied for aid, $797K approved, and $1.1M to the City of Clear Lake Shores for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 346 paid, $16.8M.
Is Clear Lake Shores at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Clear Lake Shores’ rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clear Lake Shores.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clear Lake Shores’ 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.