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Liberty County CourthouseLiberty County Courthouse · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Liberty · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Liberty as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #353 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%), then hurricanes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 468 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 43%Hurricanes 41%Tornadoes 12%

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

more than 54%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#353 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
B−#353 of 642
in Texas · higher than 54% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
43% of expected building damage
Flood claims
468
paid since 1979 · $21.4M
Flooded more than once
67
properties · 32 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
17
of 31 declared for Liberty County

What stands out about Liberty’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

468 paid flood claims since 1979$21.4M in all; 67 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 97% of U.S. towns.Made safer with FEMA grants98 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.Remembers 200099 flood claims were paid for 2000 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Liberty 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

43%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

41%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 19 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Ice storms Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Cold waves Lightning Coastal flooding Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 25% of Liberty’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (11.8%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Liberty’s grade

River and rain flooding is 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Liberty, and Liberty’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 41% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Liberty sits
Liberty
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #353 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Liberty’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding43%Hurricanes41%Tornadoes12%Everything else4%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Liberty has more expected damage per building than 55% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Liberty: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, FEMA took 2,125 aid registrations from Liberty addresses (the town has 3,414 homes) and flood insurance paid 52 claims for $4.4M.
A small-area figure. Liberty covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Liberty flood? Yes: 468 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Liberty, from FEMA’s records: 137.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 27 claims1980: 5 claims1981: 9 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 1 claim1986: 1 claim1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 15 claims1990: 10 claims1991: 2 claims1992: 4 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 62 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 10 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 99 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 2 claims2003: 3 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 3 claims2006: 27 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 30 claims2016: 2 claims2017: 52 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 90 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 6 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199420002019
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Imelda90 claims · $7.2M
  • Hurricane Harvey52 claims · $4.4M
  • The Fall severe storms29 claims · $1.3M
468
paid claims since 1979
$21.4M
paid to owners
67
homes flooded more than once
$46K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 2 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (32)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Liberty isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Liberty County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
98flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Liberty

Disasters that paid out in Liberty itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Liberty), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Beryl1,404 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$424K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding584 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$378K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms255 households applied for aid$187K aid approved
  4. 2019Tropical Storm Imelda496 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved90 flood claims paid for it, $7.2M
  5. 2017Hurricane Harvey2,125 households applied for aid$4.8M aid approved$666K to the City of Liberty for repairs52 flood claims paid for it, $4.4M
  6. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding94 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$216K to the City of Liberty for repairs
Show all 17
  1. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding63 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$882K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding220 households applied for aid$357K aid approved$13K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  3. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding271 households applied for aid$393K aid approved$34K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  4. 2008Hurricane Ike3,018 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$7.1M to the City of Liberty for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  6. 2005Hurricane Rita5,473 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved$1.7M to the City of Liberty for repairs
  7. 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  8. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$1K to the City of Liberty for repairs
  9. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding35 households applied for aid$100K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  10. 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$5K to the City of Liberty for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $44K
  11. 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$9K to the City of Liberty for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in LibertyLiberty County only

Liberty County has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Liberty County, 2000–2000.

Were you here?

Old photos of Liberty after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Liberty archive →
Next door

Liberty and its neighbors

Liberty has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Ames: hazard risk C+Dayton: hazard risk C+AmesDaytonLiberty
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
LibertyB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding468
AmesC+more damage than 61%river and rain flooding26
DaytonC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding255

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Liberty faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Liberty

Is Liberty at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #353 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%) and hurricanes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Liberty flood?

Flood insurance has paid 468 claims in Liberty since 1979, $21.4M in all, or 137.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 67 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Imelda (90).

Is Liberty 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 Liberty County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Liberty?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Liberty’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 Liberty?

By FEMA money that reached Liberty, Hurricane Ike (2008): 3,018 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $7.1M to the City of Liberty for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Imelda: 90 paid, $7.2M.

Is Liberty at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Liberty’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Liberty.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Liberty’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.