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C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in South Houston · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in South Houston than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Houston gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #588 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then hurricanes (32%). Flood insurance has paid 1,042 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 63%Hurricanes 32%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 83%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#588 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
C−#588 of 642
in Texas · higher than 83% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
63% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,042
paid since 1978 · $38.6M
Flooded more than once
94
properties · 20 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
13
of 34 declared for Harris County

What stands out about South Houston’s natural hazards

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

1,042 paid flood claims since 1978$38.6M in all; 94 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.Remembers 2017386 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What South Houston 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

63%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

32%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 18% of South Houston’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (3.7%), 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 South Houston’s grade

River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Houston, and South Houston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 32% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).

Where South Houston sits
South Houston
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #588 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).

South Houston’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding63%Hurricanes32%Tornadoes4%Everything else2%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, South Houston has more expected damage per building than 92% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across South Houston: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, FEMA took 2,613 aid registrations from South Houston addresses (the town has 5,487 homes) and flood insurance paid 384 claims for $27.2M.
A small-area figure. South Houston covers 4 census tracts, combined by where 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 South Houston flood? Yes: 1,042 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Houston, from FEMA’s records: 189.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 5 claims1979: 33 claims1980: 2 claims1981: 63 claims1982: 3 claims1983: 45 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 4 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 9 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 56 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 3 claims1992: 2 claims1993: 8 claims1994: 14 claims1995: 10 claims1996: 10 claims1997: 45 claims1998: 34 claims1999: 15 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 151 claims2002: 1 claim2003: 1 claim2004: 1 claim2005: 2 claims2006: 86 claims2007: 15 claims2008: 13 claims2009: 14 claims2010: 2 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 3 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 386 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 4 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200120062017
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Harvey384 claims · $27.2M
  • Tropical Storm Allison183 claims · $3.9M
  • Hurricane Alicia40 claims · $258K
1,042
paid claims since 1978
$38.6M
paid to owners
94
homes flooded more than once
$37K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 2 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (20)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

South Houston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Harris County.
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to South Houston

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Beryl2,421 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding167 households applied for aid$147K aid approved
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms310 households applied for aid$281K aid approved
  4. 2019Tropical Storm Imelda10 households applied for aid$5K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2017Hurricane Harvey2,613 households applied for aid$9.7M aid approved$310K to the City of South Houston for repairs384 flood claims paid for it, $27.2M
  6. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Show all 13
  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding6 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
  3. 2008Hurricane Ike1,523 households applied for aid$859K aid approved$510K to the City of South Houston for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $54K
  4. 2007Tropical Storm Erin3 households applied for aid$8K aid approved14 flood claims paid for it, $89K
  5. 2005Hurricane Rita447 households applied for aid$136K aid approved$59K to the City of South Houston for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding2 households applied for aid$10K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  7. 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$69K to the City of South Houston for repairs183 flood claims paid for it, $3.9M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in South HoustonHarris 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 South Houston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the South Houston archive →
Next door

South Houston and its neighbors

South Houston is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Houston: hazard risk DPasadena: hazard risk C−HoustonPasadenaSouth Houston
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
PasadenaC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding5,531
South HoustonC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding1,042
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 South Houston 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.
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 South Houston

Is South Houston at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Houston has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #588 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and hurricanes (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does South Houston flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,042 claims in South Houston since 1978, $38.6M in all, or 189.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 94 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (384).

Is South Houston 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 South Houston?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Houston’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 South Houston?

By FEMA money that reached South Houston, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 2,613 households applied for aid, $9.7M approved, and $310K to the City of South Houston for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 384 paid, $27.2M.

Is South Houston at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and South Houston’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Houston.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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