Photo: Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Palacios faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palacios gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #636 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (79%), then river and rain flooding (15%). Flood insurance has paid 87 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 Palacios’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palacios 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 Palacios’ grade
Hurricanes are 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palacios, and Palacios’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #636 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Palacios’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Palacios has more expected damage per building than 99% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Palacios: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palacios flood? Sometimes: 87 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palacios, from FEMA’s records: 39.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Claudette10 claims · $101K
- Hurricane Harvey8 claims · $208K
- Hurricane Ike5 claims · $31K
Palacios isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Matagorda County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palacios
Disasters that paid out in Palacios itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palacios), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl1,444 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$614K to the City of Palacios for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms224 households applied for aid$197K aid approved$62K to the City of Palacios for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1,567 households applied for aid$640K aid approved$234K to the City of Palacios for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $208K
- 2008Hurricane Ike32 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$32K to the City of Palacios for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $31K
- 2005Hurricane Rita$3K to the City of Palacios for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$8K to the City of Palacios for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Hurricane Claudette904 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$83K to the City of Palacios for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $101K
Matagorda County has had 23 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 Palacios after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palacios archive →Get ready for what Palacios 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 Palacios
Is Palacios at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palacios has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #636 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (79%) and river and rain flooding (15%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palacios flood?
Flood insurance has paid 87 claims in Palacios since 1979, $775K in all, or 39.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Claudette (10).
Is Palacios 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 Matagorda County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 15.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Palacios?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palacios’ 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 Palacios?
By FEMA money that reached Palacios, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 1,444 households applied for aid, $2.6M approved, and $614K to the City of Palacios for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Claudette: 10 paid, $101K.
Is Palacios at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Palacios’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palacios.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palacios’ 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.