FEMA puts Garden Ridge’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden Ridge gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #148 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1984.
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 Garden Ridge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Garden Ridge 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 Garden Ridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garden Ridge, and Garden Ridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #148 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garden Ridge’s residents live in 3 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, Garden Ridge has less expected damage per building than 77% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Garden Ridge: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garden Ridge flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garden Ridge, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Garden Ridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Comal County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Garden Ridge
Disasters that paid out in Garden Ridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Garden Ridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storms13 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$13K to the City of Garden Ridge for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Comal County has had 19 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Comal County, 1999–2006.
Old photos of Garden Ridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garden Ridge archive →Garden Ridge and its neighbors
Garden Ridge has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Ridge | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Schertz | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
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 Garden Ridge 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 Garden Ridge
Is Garden Ridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden Ridge has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #148 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garden Ridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Garden Ridge since 1984, $21K in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Garden Ridge 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 Comal County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Garden Ridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garden Ridge’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 Garden Ridge?
By FEMA money that reached Garden Ridge, Tx-flooding 10/18/98 (1998): $13K to the City of Garden Ridge for repairs.
Is Garden Ridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Garden Ridge’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garden Ridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garden Ridge’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.