FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Kemah than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kemah gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #443 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hurricanes (42%). Flood insurance has paid 1,167 claims here since 1979.
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 Kemah’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kemah 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 Kemah’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kemah, and Kemah’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #443 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kemah’s residents live in 5 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, Kemah has more expected damage per building than 69% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Kemah: $750K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kemah flood? Yes: 1,167 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kemah, from FEMA’s records: 1,145.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike300 claims · $27.7M
- Hurricane Alicia209 claims · $4.3M
- Tropical Storm Claudette126 claims · $1.7M
Kemah isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Galveston County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kemah
Disasters that paid out in Kemah itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Kemah), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl708 households applied for aid$473K aid approved$119K to the City of Kemah for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms83 households applied for aid$23K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey510 households applied for aid$408K aid approved$122K to the City of Kemah for repairs57 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
- 2008Hurricane Ike1,269 households applied for aid$3.7M aid approved$2.6M to the City of Kemah for repairs300 flood claims paid for it, $27.7M
- 2005Hurricane Rita522 households applied for aid$195K aid approved$43K to the City of Kemah for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$9K to the City of Kemah for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Hurricane Claudette4 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$6K to the City of Kemah for repairs126 flood claims paid for it, $1.7M
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$7K to the City of Kemah for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
Galveston County has had 25 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.
Old photos of Kemah after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kemah archive →Kemah and its neighbors
Kemah is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacliff | C+more damage than 60% | hurricanes | 44 |
| Kemah | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,167 |
| Clear Lake Shores | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1,056 |
| Seabrook | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2,458 |
| League City | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4,320 |
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 Kemah 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Kemah
Is Kemah at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kemah has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #443 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hurricanes (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kemah flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,167 claims in Kemah since 1979, $42.4M in all, or 1,145.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 79 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (300).
Is Kemah 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 Galveston County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 42.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kemah?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kemah’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 Kemah?
By FEMA money that reached Kemah, Hurricane Ike (2008): 1,269 households applied for aid, $3.7M approved, and $2.6M to the City of Kemah for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 300 paid, $27.7M.
Is Kemah at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Kemah’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kemah.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kemah’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.