Riley's Tavern · Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Redwood faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redwood gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #310 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 1985.
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 Redwood 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
Tornadoes
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.
What’s behind Redwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Redwood, and Redwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #310 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Redwood’s 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, Redwood has less expected damage per building than 52% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Redwood: $565K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Redwood flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Redwood, from FEMA’s records: 30.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early summer storms17 claims · $1.0M
- The Fall severe storms3 claims · $154K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $4K
Redwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Guadalupe County.The storms Redwood remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Guadalupe County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Redwood itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201520 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Guadalupe County
- 20015 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19983 flood claims paidThe year of Tx-flooding 10/18/98, declared for Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Redwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Redwood archive →Redwood and its neighbors
Redwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| San Marcos | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 678 |
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 Redwood 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.
- 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.
- 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 Redwood
Is Redwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redwood has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #310 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (10%). 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 Redwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Redwood since 1985, $1.6M in all, or 30.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Early summer storms (17).
Is Redwood 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 Guadalupe County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Redwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Redwood’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 Redwood?
By flood claims, Early summer storms: 17 paid, $1.0M.
Is Redwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Redwood’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Redwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Redwood’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.