Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Denver City’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denver City gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #491 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1985.
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 Denver 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
Hail
Wildfire
Tornadoes
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 Denver City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Denver City, and Denver City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #491 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Denver City’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Denver City has more expected damage per building than 76% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Denver City: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Denver City flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Denver City, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Denver 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: Yoakum County.The storms Denver City remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Yoakum County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Denver City itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20043 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19852 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19911 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Yoakum County has had 7 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.
Old photos of Denver City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Denver City archive →Get ready for what Denver 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.
- 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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.
- 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 Denver City
Is Denver City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denver City has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #491 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hail (10%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Denver City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Denver City since 1985, $51K in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Denver 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 Yoakum County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Denver City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Denver City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Denver City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Denver City’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Denver City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Denver 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.