FEMA puts Friendswood’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friendswood gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #608 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then hurricanes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 4,386 claims here since 1978.
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 Friendswood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Friendswood 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
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 Friendswood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Friendswood, and Friendswood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 29% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).
D #608 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Friendswood’s residents live in 11 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, Friendswood has more expected damage per building than 95% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $25.3M a year in losses across Friendswood: $17.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Friendswood flood? Yes: 4,386 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Friendswood, from FEMA’s records: 282.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey1,585 claims · $294M
- Tropical Storm Claudette893 claims · $26.5M
- Tropical Storm Allison591 claims · $32.5M
Friendswood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Galveston County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Friendswood
Disasters that paid out in Friendswood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Friendswood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl4,339 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$2.8M to the City of Friendswood for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding75 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms736 households applied for aid$365K aid approved$288K to the City of Friendswood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda2 households applied for aid$430 aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma1 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey5,050 households applied for aid$20.9M aid approved$9.6M to the City of Friendswood for repairs1,585 flood claims paid for it, $294M
Show all 12
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding62 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding10 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike4,580 households applied for aid$557K aid approved$8.5M to the City of Friendswood for repairs46 flood claims paid for it, $832K
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,530 households applied for aid$369K aid approved$159K to the City of Friendswood for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$47K to the City of Friendswood for repairs
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$320K to the City of Friendswood for repairs591 flood claims paid for it, $32.5M
Its 2 counties have had 39 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Friendswood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Friendswood archive →Friendswood and its neighbors
Friendswood is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 426 |
| Alvin | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1,418 |
| League City | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4,320 |
| Pearland | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3,078 |
| Friendswood | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 4,386 |
| Houston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 71,124 |
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 Friendswood 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.
- 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.
- Friendswood residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Friendswood
Is Friendswood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friendswood has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #608 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and hurricanes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Friendswood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4,386 claims in Friendswood since 1978, $380M in all, or 282.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 394 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (1,585).
Is Friendswood 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 Galveston County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 42.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Friendswood?
Friendswood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Friendswood?
By FEMA money that reached Friendswood, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 5,050 households applied for aid, $20.9M approved, and $9.6M to the City of Friendswood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 1,585 paid, $294M.
Is Friendswood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Friendswood’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Friendswood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Friendswood’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.