J. Thiele Building · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Miles
Miles isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Miles yet.
What Miles 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
Strong wind
Cold waves
Hail
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.
Does Miles flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Miles. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Miles isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Runnels County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Miles
Disasters that paid out in Miles itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Miles), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding17 households applied for aid$255K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Runnels County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Miles after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Miles archive →Get ready for what Miles 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Let faucets drip so pipes don’t freeze.
- Know where your water shutoff is.
- Never heat the house with the oven or a grill.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Miles
Is Miles 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 Runnels County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Miles?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Miles’ 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 Miles?
By FEMA money that reached Miles, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2025): 17 households applied for aid, $255K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Miles.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Miles’ 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.