Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Cleveland as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cleveland gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #342 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%), then hurricanes (33%). Flood insurance has paid 131 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 stands out about Cleveland’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cleveland 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
Tornadoes
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 Cleveland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cleveland, and Cleveland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 33% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #342 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cleveland’s residents live in 6 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, Cleveland has more expected damage per building than 53% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Cleveland: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cleveland flood? Yes: 131 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cleveland, from FEMA’s records: 40.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Imelda40 claims · $2.6M
- Hurricane Harvey27 claims · $2.5M
- Tropical Storm Allison5 claims · $36K
Cleveland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Liberty County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cleveland
Disasters that paid out in Cleveland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cleveland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl9,882 households applied for aid$12.5M aid approved$281K to the City of Cleveland for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,205 households applied for aid$9.1M aid approved$78K to the City of Cleveland for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms1,194 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda987 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved40 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
- 2017Hurricane Harvey4,090 households applied for aid$11.4M aid approved$1.0M to the City of Cleveland for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding274 households applied for aid$410K aid approved
Show all 14
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding296 households applied for aid$324K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding42 households applied for aid$61K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding159 households applied for aid$215K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike5,278 households applied for aid$4.5M aid approved$645K to the City of Cleveland for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $12K
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$16K to the City of Cleveland for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita9,742 households applied for aid$9.0M aid approved$342K to the City of Cleveland for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding83 households applied for aid$275K aid approved
Liberty County has had 31 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Liberty County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Cleveland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cleveland archive →Cleveland and its neighbors
Cleveland has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 131 |
| North Cleveland | — | 376 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 Cleveland 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.
- 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.
- 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 Cleveland
Is Cleveland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cleveland has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #342 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%) and hurricanes (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cleveland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 131 claims in Cleveland since 1983, $7.1M in all, or 40.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Imelda (40).
Is Cleveland 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 Liberty County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cleveland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cleveland’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 Cleveland?
By FEMA money that reached Cleveland, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 9,882 households applied for aid, $12.5M approved, and $281K to the City of Cleveland for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Imelda: 40 paid, $2.6M.
Is Cleveland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Cleveland’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cleveland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cleveland’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.