Photo: Rmckee8 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Orange than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Orange gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #620 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (53%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 1,555 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 Orange’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Orange 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
Coastal 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 Orange’s grade
Hurricanes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Orange, and Orange’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #620 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Orange’s residents live in 11 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, Orange has more expected damage per building than 97% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.4M a year in losses across Orange: $10.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Orange flood? Yes: 1,555 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Orange, from FEMA’s records: 173.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey708 claims · $92.4M
- Hurricane Ike497 claims · $35.1M
- Tropical Storm Imelda73 claims · $7.4M
Orange isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Orange
Disasters that paid out in Orange itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Orange), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl3,004 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding27 households applied for aid$58K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms800 households applied for aid$366K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda1,179 households applied for aid$3.7M aid approved73 flood claims paid for it, $7.4M
- 2017Hurricane Harvey16,866 households applied for aid$65.5M aid approved$4.9M to the City of Orange for repairs708 flood claims paid for it, $92.4M
- 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,843 households applied for aid$7.4M aid approved$247K to the City of Orange for repairs72 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Hurricane Ike15,055 households applied for aid$29.0M aid approved$1.9M to the City of Orange for repairs497 flood claims paid for it, $35.1M
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$71K to the City of Orange for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita25,208 households applied for aid$55.4M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Orange for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $462K
- 2005Hurricane Rita2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved24 flood claims paid for it, $462K
- 2005Hurricane Rita$37K to the City of Orange for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $462K
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding192 households applied for aid$441K aid approved47 flood claims paid that year
Orange County has had 24 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.
Old photos of Orange after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Orange archive →Orange and its neighbors
Orange is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Cypress | Dmore damage than 86% | hurricanes | — |
| West Orange | Dmore damage than 87% | hurricanes | 340 |
| Orange | Dmore damage than 88% | hurricanes | 1,555 |
| Bridge City | Dmore damage than 88% | hurricanes | 2,363 |
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 Orange 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Orange
Is Orange at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Orange has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #620 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (53%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Orange flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,555 claims in Orange since 1979, $142M in all, or 173.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 191 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (708).
Is Orange 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 Orange County, 29.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Orange?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Orange’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 Orange?
By FEMA money that reached Orange, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 16,866 households applied for aid, $65.5M approved, and $4.9M to the City of Orange for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 708 paid, $92.4M.
Is Orange at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Orange’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Orange.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Orange’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.