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City Hall Municipal Building, Del Rio, TexasPhoto: JherreraCODR · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Del Rio · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Del Rio than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Del Rio gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #91 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 112 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 88%Hail 6%Tornadoes 2%

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#91 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
A−#91 of 642
in Texas · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
112
paid since 1979 · $3.2M
Flooded more than once
12
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 12 declared for Val Verde County

What stands out about Del Rio’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.112 paid flood claims since 1979$3.2M in all; 12 properties flooded more than once.Moved out of harm’s way214 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 1 flood-prone home bought out and moved with FEMA grants.Remembers 199862 flood claims were paid for 1998 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Del Rio 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

88%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hail

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Hurricanes Strong wind Winter storms Earthquakes Lightning Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Del Rio’s grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Del Rio, and Del Rio’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Del Rio sits
Del Rio
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #91 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Del Rio’s residents live in 12 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Hail6%Everything else6%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Del Rio has less expected damage per building than 86% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.2M a year in losses across Del Rio: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 12 census tracts by where Del Rio’s 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 Del Rio flood? Yes: 112 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Del Rio, from FEMA’s records: 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 2 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 62 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 2 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 9 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 2 claims2010: 18 claims2011: 4 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 4 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 2 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim199820072010
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Early summer storms2 claims · $39K
112
paid claims since 1979
$3.2M
paid to owners
12
homes flooded more than once
$29K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Val Verde County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
214flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1flood-prone home bought out and moved
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Del Rio

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

  1. 2021Severe Winter Storms482 households applied for aid$381K aid approved$93K to the City of Del Rio for repairs
  2. 2010Hurricane Alex100 households applied for aid$355K aid approved18 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2005Hurricane Rita$11K to the City of Del Rio for repairs
  4. 2005Hurricane Rita$4K to the City of Del Rio for repairs
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$8K to the City of Del Rio for repairs
  6. 1998Tropical Storm Charley$1.5M to the City of Del Rio for repairs62 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Del RioVal Verde County only

Val Verde County has had 12 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Del Rio archive →
Next door

Del Rio and its neighbors

Del Rio is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Laughlin AFB: hazard risk A+Val Verde Park: hazard risk A+Cienegas Terrace: hazard risk ALaughlin AFBVal Verde ParkCienegas TerraceDel Rio
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Laughlin AFBA+among the lowest damageriver and rain flooding—
Val Verde ParkA+less damage than 95%river and rain flooding—
Cienegas TerraceAless damage than 88%river and rain flooding1
Del RioA−less damage than 82%river and rain flooding112

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Del Rio 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 ↗
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 ↗
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 Del Rio

Is Del Rio at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Del Rio has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #91 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hail (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Del Rio flood?

Flood insurance has paid 112 claims in Del Rio since 1979, $3.2M in all, or 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer storms (2).

Is Del Rio 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 Val Verde County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Del Rio?

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

By FEMA money that reached Del Rio, Tropical Storm Charley (1998): $1.5M to the City of Del Rio for repairs. By flood claims, Early summer storms: 2 paid, $39K.

Is Del Rio at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Del Rio’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Del Rio.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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