Navarro County Courthouse · Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Corsicana’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corsicana gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #156 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 73 claims here since 1981.
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 Corsicana’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Corsicana 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 Corsicana’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Corsicana, and Corsicana’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 21%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #156 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Corsicana’s residents live in 8 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, Corsicana has less expected damage per building than 76% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.2M a year in losses across Corsicana: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Corsicana flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Corsicana, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Texas Spring Flooding1 claim · $10K
- The Early summer severe storms1 claim · $15K
Corsicana isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Navarro County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Corsicana
Disasters that paid out in Corsicana itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Corsicana), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding160 households applied for aid$336K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms467 households applied for aid$359K aid approved$18K to the City of Corsicana for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding413 households applied for aid$569K aid approved$4K to the City of Corsicana for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding189 households applied for aid$278K aid approved$1.0M to the City of Corsicana for repairs
- 2011Wildfires8 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita1 households applied for aid$19K to the City of Corsicana for repairs
Show all 7
- 2005Hurricane Rita$5K to the City of Corsicana for repairs
Navarro County has had 21 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 Corsicana after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Corsicana archive →Corsicana and its neighbors
Corsicana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corsicana | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| Retreat | — | 707 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Oak Valley | — | 364 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 Corsicana 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 Corsicana
Is Corsicana at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corsicana has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #156 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Corsicana flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Corsicana since 1981, $2.2M in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Texas Spring Flooding (1).
Is Corsicana 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 Navarro County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Corsicana?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Corsicana’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 Corsicana?
By FEMA money that reached Corsicana, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2015): 189 households applied for aid, $278K approved, and $1.0M to the City of Corsicana for repairs. By flood claims, Texas Spring Flooding: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Corsicana at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Corsicana’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Corsicana.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Corsicana’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.