Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Crystal City faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Crystal City gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #248 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1980.
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 Crystal City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Crystal City 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
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 Crystal City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Crystal City, and Crystal City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
B #248 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Crystal City’s residents live in 2 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, Crystal City has less expected damage per building than 61% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Crystal City: $903K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Crystal City flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Crystal City, from FEMA’s records: 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Alicia6 claims · $20K
- Hurricane Allen2 claims · $2K
- The Thunderstorms2 claims · $11K
Crystal City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Zavala County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Crystal City
Disasters that paid out in Crystal City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Crystal City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$18K to the City of Crystal City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding621 households applied for aid$452K aid approved$945K to the City of Crystal City for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Claudette264 households applied for aid$261K aid approved$17K to the City of Crystal City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the City of Crystal City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Zavala County has had 15 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 Crystal City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Crystal City archive →Get ready for what Crystal City 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.
- 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 Crystal City
Is Crystal City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Crystal City has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #248 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Crystal City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Crystal City since 1980, $180K in all, or 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Alicia (6).
Is Crystal City 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 Zavala County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Crystal City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Crystal City’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 Crystal City?
By FEMA money that reached Crystal City, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2007): 621 households applied for aid, $452K approved, and $945K to the City of Crystal City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Alicia: 6 paid, $20K.
Is Crystal City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Crystal City’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Crystal City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Crystal City’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.