FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Heartland as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Heartland gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #245 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (16%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Heartland 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 Heartland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Heartland, and Heartland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 16%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B #245 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Heartland’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Heartland has less expected damage per building than 62% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Heartland: $981K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Heartland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Heartland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Heartland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kaufman County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Heartland
Disasters that paid out in Heartland itself (aid to households or repair grants to Heartland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding363 households applied for aid$371K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms64 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
Kaufman County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Heartland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Heartland archive →Heartland and its neighbors
Heartland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartland | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Mesquite | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
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 Heartland 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 Heartland
Is Heartland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Heartland has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #245 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (16%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Heartland 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 Kaufman County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Heartland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Heartland’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 Heartland?
By FEMA money that reached Heartland, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): 363 households applied for aid, $371K approved.
Is Heartland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Heartland’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Heartland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Heartland’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.