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President's HousePresident's House · Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Commerce · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Commerce than in 82% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Commerce gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #85 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1997.

River and rain flooding 45%Tornadoes 21%Hail 13%

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

less than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#85 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
A−#85 of 642
in Texas · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
45% of expected building damage
Flood claims
2
paid since 1997 · $9K
Disasters paid out here
3
of 11 declared for Hunt County

What stands out about Commerce’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 82% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Made safer with FEMA grants7 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Commerce 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

45%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

21%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

13%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Ice storms

13%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms Hurricanes Cold waves top 4% Lightning Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 38% of Commerce’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (21.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Commerce’s grade

River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Commerce, and Commerce’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 13%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Commerce sits
Commerce
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #85 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Commerce’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding45%Tornadoes21%Hail13%Everything else20%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Commerce has less expected damage per building than 87% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Commerce: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Commerce covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Commerce flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1997

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Commerce, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1997: 1 claim1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims19971998
19972026
2
paid claims since 1997
$9K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Commerce isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hunt County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
7storm safe rooms built
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Commerce

Disasters that paid out in Commerce itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Commerce), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Severe Winter Storms107 households applied for aid$57K aid approved
  2. 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$65K to the City of Commerce for repairs
  3. 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$16K to the City of Commerce for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CommerceHunt County only

Hunt County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Hunt County, 1998–1998.

Were you here?

Old photos of Commerce after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Commerce archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Commerce faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Commerce

Is Commerce at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Commerce has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #85 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Commerce flood?

Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Commerce since 1997, $9K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Is Commerce 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 Hunt County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Commerce?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Commerce’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 Commerce?

By FEMA money that reached Commerce, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2007): $65K to the City of Commerce for repairs.

Is Commerce at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Commerce’s rate for it is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Commerce.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Commerce’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.