Storms, floods and disasters in Colmesneil
Colmesneil isn’t graded for hazard risk: Colmesneil has 642 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more.
What Colmesneil 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.
Does Colmesneil flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Colmesneil. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Colmesneil isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tyler County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Colmesneil
Disasters that paid out in Colmesneil itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Colmesneil), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding68 households applied for aid$339K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms23 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey173 households applied for aid$213K aid approved$10K to the City of Colmesneil for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$81K aid approved$60K to the City of Colmesneil for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$688 aid approved$21K to the City of Colmesneil for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike381 households applied for aid$221K aid approved$18K to the City of Colmesneil for repairs
Show all 8
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$2K to the City of Colmesneil for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,185 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved
Tyler County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Tyler County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Colmesneil after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colmesneil archive →Get ready for what Colmesneil 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 Colmesneil
Is Colmesneil 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 Tyler County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colmesneil?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colmesneil’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 Colmesneil?
By FEMA money that reached Colmesneil, Hurricane Rita (2005): 1,185 households applied for aid, $2.3M approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colmesneil.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colmesneil’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.