Photo: Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Houston than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Houston gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #615 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 71,124 claims here since 1978.
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 Houston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Houston 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
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 Houston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Houston, and Houston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 25% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
D #615 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Houston’s residents live in 943 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, Houston has more expected damage per building than 96% of Texas towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Houston has higher expected damage per building than 80% (#322 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $1.16B, is the 3rd largest of those 400.
Does Houston flood? Yes: 71,124 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Houston, from FEMA’s records: 68.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey22,597 claims · $3,000M
- Tropical Storm Allison11,493 claims · $511M
- The Early summer storms4,392 claims · $344M
Houston is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Harris County.19 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Houston
Disasters that paid out in Houston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Houston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl480,336 households applied for aid$412M aid approved$62.4M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding133,972 households applied for aid$106M aid approved$35.2M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms102,893 households applied for aid$51.3M aid approved$6.5M to the City of Houston for repairs52 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda6,021 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved2,231 flood claims paid for it, $123M
- 2017Hurricane Harvey339,577 households applied for aid$545M aid approved$436M to the City of Houston for repairs22,597 flood claims paid for it, $3.00B
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding591 households applied for aid$363K aid approved
Show all 19
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding16,380 households applied for aid$36.6M aid approved$12.2M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding880 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding10,541 households applied for aid$22.4M aid approved$8.7M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike270,177 households applied for aid$106M aid approved$182M to the City of Houston for repairs3,646 flood claims paid for it, $102M
- 2007Tropical Storm Erin212 households applied for aid$279K aid approved530 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita51,031 households applied for aid$17.2M aid approved$9.9M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita11 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita$177K to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$307M to the City of Houston for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding2,689 households applied for aid$11.2M aid approved1,168 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$23.4M to the City of Houston for repairs11,493 flood claims paid for it, $511M
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$89K to the City of Houston for repairs1,112 flood claims paid that year
Its 2 counties have had 35 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2006–2011.
Old photos of Houston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Houston archive →Houston and its neighbors
Houston is 10th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinco Ranch | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Fresno | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Humble | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 773 |
| Spring | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 316 |
| Atascocita | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 231 |
| Pasadena | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5,531 |
| Channelview | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 414 |
| Pearland | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3,078 |
| Four Corners | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Houston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 71,124 |
| Mission Bend | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 263 |
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 Houston 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.
- 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.
- Houston residents get 30% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Houston
Is Houston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Houston has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #615 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Houston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 71,124 claims in Houston since 1978, $4.79B in all, or 68.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11,098 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (22,597).
Is Houston 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 Harris County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Houston?
Houston is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4), which takes 30% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Houston?
By FEMA money that reached Houston, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 339,577 households applied for aid, $545M approved, and $436M to the City of Houston for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 22,597 paid, $3.00B.
Is Houston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Houston’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Houston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Houston’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.