Storms, floods and disasters in Hardin
Hardin isn’t graded for hazard risk: Hardin has 621 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1979.
What Hardin 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
Tornadoes
Wildfire
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.
Does Hardin flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hardin, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Claudette1 claim · $961
- Hurricane Harvey1 claim · $1K
- The Fall severe storms1 claim · $19K
Hardin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Liberty County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hardin
Disasters that paid out in Hardin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hardin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl9 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$118K aid approved
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey50 households applied for aid$123K aid approved$28K to the City of Hardin for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding29 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$10K to the City of Hardin for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike260 households applied for aid$438K aid approved$2K to the City of Hardin for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita648 households applied for aid$976K aid approved$1K to the City of Hardin for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding9 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
Liberty County has had 31 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Liberty County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Hardin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hardin archive →Get ready for what Hardin 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.
- 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Hardin
Does Hardin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Hardin since 1979, $59K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Claudette (1).
Is Hardin 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 Liberty County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hardin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hardin’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 Hardin?
By FEMA money that reached Hardin, Hurricane Rita (2005): 648 households applied for aid, $976K approved, and $1K to the City of Hardin for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Claudette: 1 paid, $961.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hardin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hardin’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.