Photo: Texas.pics · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Stanton’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stanton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #613 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1980.
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 Stanton 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
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 Stanton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stanton, and Stanton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #613 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Stanton’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, Stanton has more expected damage per building than 95% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Stanton: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stanton flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stanton, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Stanton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Martin County.The storms Stanton remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Martin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Stanton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19801 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19861 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Martin County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Martin County, 2008–2008.
Old photos of Stanton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stanton archive →Get ready for what Stanton 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.
- 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 Stanton
Is Stanton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stanton has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #613 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hail (8%). 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 Stanton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Stanton since 1980, $787 in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Stanton 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 Martin County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Stanton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stanton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Stanton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Stanton’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stanton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stanton’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.