Storms, floods and disasters in Falls City
Falls City isn’t graded for hazard risk: Falls City has 541 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1998.
What Falls 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
Hurricanes
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.
Does Falls City flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Falls City, from FEMA’s records.
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $34K
Falls 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: Karnes County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Falls City
Disasters that paid out in Falls City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Falls City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storms4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Claudette4 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$22K to the City of Falls City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$3K to the City of Falls City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Karnes County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Falls City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Falls City archive →Get ready for what Falls 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Falls City
Does Falls City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Falls City since 1998, $35K in all. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).
Is Falls 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 Karnes County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Falls City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Falls 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 Falls City?
By FEMA money that reached Falls City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2002): $22K to the City of Falls City for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $34K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Falls City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Falls 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.