Photo: Sfosterfate · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Fate 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, Fate gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #265 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then hail (16%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2018.
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 Fate 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
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 Fate’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fate, and Fate’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 16%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #265 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fate’s residents live in 7 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, Fate has less expected damage per building than 59% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.7M a year in losses across Fate: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fate flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fate, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fate isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockwall County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fate
Disasters that paid out in Fate itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fate), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms53 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$13K to the City of Fate for repairs
Rockwall County has had 11 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 Fate after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fate archive →Fate and its neighbors
Fate has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fate | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Rockwall | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Royse City | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mobile City | — | 296 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 Fate 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.
- 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 Fate
Is Fate at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fate has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #265 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and hail (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fate flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Fate since 2018, $640K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Fate 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 Rockwall County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fate?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fate’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 Fate?
By FEMA money that reached Fate, Severe Winter Storms (2021): 53 households applied for aid, $11K approved, and $13K to the City of Fate for repairs.
Is Fate at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Fate’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fate.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fate’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.