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C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Pasadena · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Pasadena than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pasadena gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #530 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then hurricanes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 5,531 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 60%Hurricanes 34%Tornadoes 4%

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 77%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#530 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
C−#530 of 642
in Texas · higher than 77% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
60% of expected building damage
Flood claims
5,531
paid since 1978 · $189M
Flooded more than once
520
properties · 138 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Pasadena’s natural hazards

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

5,531 paid flood claims since 1978$189M in all; 520 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 96% of U.S. towns.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Pasadena residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Made safer with FEMA grants361 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.Remembers 20171,280 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Pasadena 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

60%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

34%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Coastal flooding Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
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 22% of Pasadena’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (4.2%), 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 Pasadena’s grade

River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pasadena, and Pasadena’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 34% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Pasadena sits
Pasadena
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #530 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Pasadena’s residents live in 39 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding60%Hurricanes34%Tornadoes4%Everything else1%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Pasadena has more expected damage per building than 83% of Texas towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Pasadena has higher expected damage per building than 69% (#278 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $55.4M, is the 224th largest of those 400.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Beryl in 2024, FEMA took 20,271 aid registrations from Pasadena addresses (the town has 53,756 homes).
A firm figure. It combines 39 census tracts by where Pasadena’s 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 Pasadena flood? Yes: 5,531 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pasadena, from FEMA’s records: 102.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 632 claims1980: 6 claims1981: 416 claims1982: 6 claims1983: 198 claims1984: 6 claims1985: 36 claims1986: 3 claims1987: 67 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 280 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 9 claims1992: 4 claims1993: 5 claims1994: 158 claims1995: 6 claims1996: 140 claims1997: 142 claims1998: 216 claims1999: 35 claims2000: 3 claims2001: 1,142 claims2002: 68 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 5 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 159 claims2007: 88 claims2008: 217 claims2009: 100 claims2010: 3 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 6 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 2 claims2015: 39 claims2016: 4 claims2017: 1,280 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 30 claims2020: 6 claims2021: 4 claims2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 3 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197920012017
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Allison1,322 claims · $43.1M
  • Hurricane Harvey1,278 claims · $92.7M
  • Tropical Storm Claudette312 claims · $3.6M
5,531
paid claims since 1978
$189M
paid to owners
520
homes flooded more than once
$34K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 9 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (138)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Pasadena is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Harris County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
361flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1storm safe room built
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pasadena

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Beryl20,271 households applied for aid$17.8M aid approved$4.2M to the City of Pasadena for repairs
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,459 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms2,379 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$83K to the City of Pasadena for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2019Tropical Storm Imelda71 households applied for aid$23K aid approved30 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2017Hurricane Harvey14,060 households applied for aid$25.6M aid approved$5.0M to the City of Pasadena for repairs1,278 flood claims paid for it, $92.7M
  6. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$28K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding122 households applied for aid$100K aid approved
  3. 2008Hurricane Ike14,716 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved$15.8M to the City of Pasadena for repairs213 flood claims paid for it, $13.3M
  4. 2007Tropical Storm Erin103 households applied for aid$184K aid approved85 flood claims paid for it, $4.6M
  5. 2005Hurricane Rita6,389 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$362K to the City of Pasadena for repairs
  6. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$22K to the City of Pasadena for repairs
  7. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding13 households applied for aid$34K aid approved68 flood claims paid that year
  8. 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$403K to the City of Pasadena for repairs1,322 flood claims paid for it, $43.1M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in PasadenaHarris County only

Harris County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. 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 Harris County, 2011–2011.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Pasadena archive →
Next door

Pasadena and its neighbors

Pasadena is 4th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Houston: hazard risk DTaylor Lake Village: hazard risk C−Deer Park: hazard risk C−La Porte: hazard risk C−Seabrook: hazard risk CSouth Houston: hazard risk C−Nassau Bay: hazard risk CEl Lago: hazard risk C−HoustonTaylor Lake VillageDeer ParkLa PorteSeabrookSouth HoustonNassau BayEl LagoPasadena
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
SeabrookCmore damage than 73%river and rain flooding2,458
Nassau BayCmore damage than 75%river and rain flooding1,192
El LagoC−more damage than 76%river and rain flooding402
PasadenaC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding5,531
Deer ParkC−more damage than 81%river and rain flooding1,530
Taylor Lake VillageC−more damage than 82%river and rain flooding533
South HoustonC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding1,042
La PorteC−more damage than 84%river and rain flooding2,498
HoustonDmore damage than 87%river and rain flooding71,124

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 Pasadena 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 ↗
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.
  • Pasadena residents get 15% off flood insurance.
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 Pasadena

Is Pasadena at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pasadena has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #530 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and hurricanes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Pasadena flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5,531 claims in Pasadena since 1978, $189M in all, or 102.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 520 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (1,322).

Is Pasadena 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 Harris County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Pasadena?

Pasadena is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Pasadena?

By FEMA money that reached Pasadena, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 14,060 households applied for aid, $25.6M approved, and $5.0M to the City of Pasadena for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 1,322 paid, $43.1M.

Is Pasadena at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Pasadena’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pasadena.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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