Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Gainesville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gainesville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #366 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 274 claims here since 1981.
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 Gainesville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gainesville 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
Tornadoes
Hail
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 Gainesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gainesville, and Gainesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 11%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #366 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gainesville’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, Gainesville has more expected damage per building than 57% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Gainesville: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gainesville flood? Yes: 274 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gainesville, from FEMA’s records: 36.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Thunderstorms103 claims · $5.8M
- The Spring Storm33 claims · $799K
- The Early summer storms1 claim · $87K
Gainesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cooke County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gainesville
Disasters that paid out in Gainesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gainesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding69 households applied for aid$118K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms173 households applied for aid$105K aid approved$41K to the City of Gainesville for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding164 households applied for aid$114K aid approved$578K to the City of Gainesville for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding574 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved$413K to the City of Gainesville for repairs107 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$36K to the City of Gainesville for repairs
Cooke County has had 17 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 Gainesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gainesville archive →Gainesville and its neighbors
Gainesville is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsay | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Gainesville | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 274 |
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 Gainesville 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Gainesville
Is Gainesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gainesville has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #366 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gainesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 274 claims in Gainesville since 1981, $8.6M in all, or 36.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 38 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Thunderstorms (103).
Is Gainesville 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 Cooke County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gainesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gainesville’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 Gainesville?
By FEMA money that reached Gainesville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2007): 574 households applied for aid, $2.9M approved, and $413K to the City of Gainesville for repairs. By flood claims, Thunderstorms: 103 paid, $5.8M.
Is Gainesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Gainesville’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gainesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gainesville’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.