Photo: 25or6to4 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Lake Jackson’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 66% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Jackson gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #444 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (49%), then river and rain flooding (47%). Flood insurance has paid 331 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 Lake Jackson’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lake Jackson faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Lake Jackson’s grade
Hurricanes are 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Jackson, and Lake Jackson’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 47% (lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
C #444 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Jackson’s residents live in 7 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, Lake Jackson has more expected damage per building than 69% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.6M a year in losses across Lake Jackson: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Jackson flood? Yes: 331 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Jackson, from FEMA’s records: 28.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Claudette21 claims · $45K
- Hurricane Harvey14 claims · $1.3M
- Tropical Storm Paul5 claims · $18K
Lake Jackson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Brazoria County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Jackson
Disasters that paid out in Lake Jackson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Jackson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl5,216 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$5.7M to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms406 households applied for aid$135K aid approved$10K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$14K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Harvey2,490 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding82 households applied for aid$274K aid approved$307K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Show all 13
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding4 households applied for aid$120K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike3,672 households applied for aid$260K aid approved$2.1M to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita876 households applied for aid$256K aid approved$102K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$19K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$1K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Claudette25 households applied for aid$59K aid approved$79K to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $45K
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding9 households applied for aid$20K aid approved90 flood claims paid that year
Brazoria County has had 28 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 Lake Jackson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Jackson archive →Lake Jackson and its neighbors
Lake Jackson is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Lake Jackson faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Lake Jackson
Is Lake Jackson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Jackson has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #444 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (49%) and river and rain flooding (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Jackson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 331 claims in Lake Jackson since 1979, $3.9M in all, or 28.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Claudette (21).
Is Lake Jackson 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 Brazoria County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 22.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lake Jackson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Jackson’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 Lake Jackson?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Jackson, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 5,216 households applied for aid, $4.2M approved, and $5.7M to the City of Lake Jackson for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Claudette: 21 paid, $45K.
Is Lake Jackson at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Lake Jackson’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Jackson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Jackson’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.