Smithville Commercial Historic District · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Smithville 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, Smithville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #320 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1981.
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 Smithville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Smithville 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
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 Smithville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Smithville, and Smithville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #320 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Smithville’s residents live in 2 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, Smithville has less expected damage per building than 50% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Smithville: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Smithville flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Smithville, from FEMA’s records: 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey17 claims · $941K
- The Spring severe storms6 claims · $262K
- The Early summer severe storms5 claims · $53K
Smithville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bastrop County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Smithville
Disasters that paid out in Smithville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Smithville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storms96 households applied for aid$62K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey295 households applied for aid$468K aid approved$269K to the City of Smithville for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $941K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding74 households applied for aid$184K aid approved$28K to the City of Smithville for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$18K to the City of Smithville for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding76 households applied for aid$300K aid approved$40K to the City of Smithville for repairs
Show all 9
- 2011Wildfires357 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$3K to the City of Smithville for repairs
- 1998Tx-flooding 10/18/98$119K to the City of Smithville for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Bastrop County has had 19 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.
Also 7 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Bastrop County, 2000–2015.
Old photos of Smithville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smithville archive →Get ready for what Smithville 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.
- 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 Smithville
Is Smithville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smithville has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #320 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Smithville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Smithville since 1981, $1.9M in all, or 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (17).
Is Smithville 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 Bastrop County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smithville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smithville’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 Smithville?
By FEMA money that reached Smithville, Wildfires (2011): 357 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 17 paid, $941K.
Is Smithville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Smithville’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smithville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smithville’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.