Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Prairie View faces less hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie View gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #32 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then hurricanes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1994.
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 Prairie View’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Prairie View 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 Prairie View’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prairie View, and Prairie View’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 21% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
A #32 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Prairie View’s residents live in 4 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, Prairie View has less expected damage per building than 95% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Prairie View: $933K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prairie View flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Prairie View, from FEMA’s records: 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Spring severe storms11 claims · $718K
- Hurricane Harvey6 claims · $468K
- The Early summer severe storms5 claims · $41K
Prairie View isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Waller County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prairie View
Disasters that paid out in Prairie View itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Prairie View), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl56 households applied for aid$89K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding73 households applied for aid$104K aid approved$20K to the City of Prairie View for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms54 households applied for aid$52K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey150 households applied for aid$119K aid approved$217K to the City of Prairie View for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $468K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding29 households applied for aid$101K aid approved$3K to the City of Prairie View for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding55 households applied for aid$344K aid approved$27K to the City of Prairie View for repairs
Show all 10
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$18K to the City of Prairie View for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike52 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$20K to the City of Prairie View for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$81K to the City of Prairie View for repairs
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$46K to the City of Prairie View for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Waller County has had 22 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Waller County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Prairie View after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prairie View archive →Prairie View and its neighbors
Prairie View 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie View | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Waller | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
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 Prairie View 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 Prairie View
Is Prairie View at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie View has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #32 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and hurricanes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Prairie View flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Prairie View since 1994, $1.5M in all, or 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Spring severe storms (11).
Is Prairie View 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 Waller County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Prairie View?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prairie View’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 Prairie View?
By FEMA money that reached Prairie View, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 55 households applied for aid, $344K approved, and $27K to the City of Prairie View for repairs. By flood claims, Spring severe storms: 11 paid, $718K.
Is Prairie View at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Prairie View’s rate for it is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prairie View.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prairie View’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.