Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Katy as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Katy gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #380 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 458 claims here since 1981.
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 Katy’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Katy 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
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 Katy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Katy, and Katy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 29% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #380 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Katy’s residents live in 6 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, Katy has more expected damage per building than 59% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Katy: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Katy flood? Yes: 458 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Katy, from FEMA’s records: 53.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey333 claims · $39.0M
- The Spring severe storms88 claims · $6.7M
- The Spring Storm6 claims · $179K
Katy isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fort Bend County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Katy
Disasters that paid out in Katy itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Katy), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl33,617 households applied for aid$21.5M aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding9,701 households applied for aid$3.7M aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms8,555 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda55 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey20,025 households applied for aid$59.3M aid approved333 flood claims paid for it, $39.0M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding30 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding853 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding65 households applied for aid$22K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike5,683 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $81K
- 2005Hurricane Rita534 households applied for aid$172K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding5 households applied for aid$14K aid approved2 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 Katy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Katy archive →Katy and its neighbors
Katy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katy | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 458 |
| Houston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 71,124 |
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 Katy 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.
- 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 Katy
Is Katy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Katy has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #380 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Katy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 458 claims in Katy since 1981, $46.2M in all, or 53.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 86 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (333).
Is Katy 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 Fort Bend County, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 15.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Katy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Katy’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 Katy?
By FEMA money that reached Katy, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 20,025 households applied for aid, $59.3M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 333 paid, $39.0M.
Is Katy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Katy’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Katy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Katy’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.