Photo: Stedil · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Magnolia’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Magnolia gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #207 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1985.
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 Magnolia’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Magnolia 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 Magnolia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Magnolia, and Magnolia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 14% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #207 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Magnolia’s residents live in 2 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, Magnolia has less expected damage per building than 68% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $759K a year in losses across Magnolia: $406K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Magnolia flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Magnolia, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Allison2 claims · $74K
- Hurricane Harvey1 claim · $87K
- The Early summer severe storms1 claim · $4K
Magnolia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Magnolia
Disasters that paid out in Magnolia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Magnolia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl7,914 households applied for aid$5.6M aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding936 households applied for aid$785K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms828 households applied for aid$473K aid approved
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda13 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1,581 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$33K to the City of Magnolia for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $87K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding506 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved$407K to the City of Magnolia for repairs
Show all 13
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding230 households applied for aid$710K aid approved$147K to the City of Magnolia for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding26 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2011Wildfires133 households applied for aid$355K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike4,139 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$49K to the City of Magnolia for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita179 households applied for aid$87K aid approved$10K to the City of Magnolia for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$2K to the City of Magnolia for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Montgomery County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Montgomery County, 2000–2025.
Old photos of Magnolia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Magnolia archive →Magnolia and its neighbors
Magnolia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Pinehurst | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Magnolia 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 Magnolia
Is Magnolia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Magnolia has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #207 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Magnolia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Magnolia since 1985, $420K in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (2).
Is Magnolia 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 Montgomery County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 10.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Magnolia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Magnolia’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 Magnolia?
By FEMA money that reached Magnolia, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 7,914 households applied for aid, $5.6M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 2 paid, $74K.
Is Magnolia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Magnolia’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Magnolia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Magnolia’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.