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C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Groves · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Groves than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groves gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #555 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (70%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 1,325 claims here since 1979.

Hurricanes 70%River and rain flooding 24%Tornadoes 4%

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

more than 80%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#555 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
C−#555 of 642
in Texas · higher than 80% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
70% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,325
paid since 1979 · $89.3M
Flooded more than once
104
properties · 7 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
12
of 24 declared for Jefferson County

What stands out about Groves’ natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

1,325 paid flood claims since 1979$89.3M in all; 104 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.Made safer with FEMA grants5 buildings retrofitted against wind with FEMA grants.Remembers 2017817 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Groves faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

70%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

River and rain flooding

24%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Cold waves Lightning Wildfire Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 11% of Groves’ expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Groves’ grade

Hurricanes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Groves, and Groves’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 24% (lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Groves sits
Groves
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #555 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Groves’ residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes70%River and rain flooding24%Tornadoes4%Everything else2%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Groves has more expected damage per building than 86% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Groves: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, FEMA took 3,621 aid registrations from Groves addresses (the town has 6,796 homes) and flood insurance paid 812 claims for $79.7M.
A small-area figure. Groves covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Groves flood? Yes: 1,325 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Groves, from FEMA’s records: 195.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 65 claims1980: 48 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 11 claims1983: 5 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 4 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 3 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 10 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 5 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 3 claims2002: 18 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 7 claims2005: 161 claims2006: 29 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 12 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 3 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 20 claims2015: 5 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 817 claims2018: 11 claims2019: 18 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 3 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 59 claims197920052017
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Harvey812 claims · $79.7M
  • Hurricane Rita158 claims · $4.1M
  • Tropical Storm Claudette61 claims · $237K
1,325
paid claims since 1979
$89.3M
paid to owners
104
homes flooded more than once
$67K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 2 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (7)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Groves isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jefferson County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
5buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Groves

Disasters that paid out in Groves itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Groves), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Beryl677 households applied for aid$386K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2021Severe Winter Storms303 households applied for aid$109K aid approved$18K to the City of Groves for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2020Hurricane Laura$96K to the City of Groves for repairs
  4. 2019Tropical Storm Imelda31 households applied for aid$9K aid approved18 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2017Hurricane Harvey3,621 households applied for aid$9.8M aid approved$1.6M to the City of Groves for repairs812 flood claims paid for it, $79.7M
  6. 2008Hurricane Ike4,835 households applied for aid$539K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Groves for repairs
Show all 12
  1. 2008Hurricane Gustav$82K to the City of Groves for repairs
  2. 2005Hurricane Rita8,301 households applied for aid$17.0M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Groves for repairs158 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
  3. 2005Hurricane Rita3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved158 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
  4. 2005Hurricane Rita$29K to the City of Groves for repairs158 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$6K to the City of Groves for repairs
  6. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding10 households applied for aid$18K aid approved18 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in GrovesJefferson County only

Jefferson County has had 24 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Groves after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Groves archive →
Next door

Groves and its neighbors

Groves has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Port Neches: hazard risk C−Port Arthur: hazard risk C−Port NechesPort ArthurGroves
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GrovesC−more damage than 80%hurricanes1,325
Port ArthurC−more damage than 82%hurricanes5,461
Port NechesC−more damage than 82%hurricanes500

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Groves faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Groves

Is Groves at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groves has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #555 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (70%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Groves flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,325 claims in Groves since 1979, $89.3M in all, or 195.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 104 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (812).

Is Groves 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 Jefferson County, 22.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Groves?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Groves’ 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 Groves?

By FEMA money that reached Groves, Hurricane Rita (2005): 8,301 households applied for aid, $17.0M approved, and $1.2M to the City of Groves for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 812 paid, $79.7M.

Is Groves at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Groves’ rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Groves.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Groves’ 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.