Imperial Sugar Company Refinery Historic District · Photo: Kylelovesyou at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Sugar Land as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sugar Land gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #365 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then hurricanes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 241 claims here since 1979.
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 Sugar Land’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sugar Land 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
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 Sugar Land’s grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sugar Land, and Sugar Land’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 35% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #365 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sugar Land’s residents live in 28 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, Sugar Land has more expected damage per building than 57% of Texas towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Sugar Land has lower expected damage per building than 54% (#183 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $47.3M, is the 259th largest of those 400.
Does Sugar Land flood? Yes: 241 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sugar Land, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey73 claims · $3.4M
- Tropical Storm Allison41 claims · $296K
- The Early summer storms21 claims · $219K
Sugar Land is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Fort Bend County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sugar Land
Disasters that paid out in Sugar Land itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sugar Land), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl19,204 households applied for aid$13.2M aid approved$5.8M to the City of Sugar Land for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms2,779 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$593K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$26K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $38K
- 2017Hurricane Harvey8,808 households applied for aid$13.4M aid approved$1.6M to the City of Sugar Land for repairs73 flood claims paid for it, $3.4M
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$265K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs
Show all 13
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding48 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding102 households applied for aid$271K aid approved21 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike4,545 households applied for aid$473K aid approved$5.2M to the City of Sugar Land for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $52K
- 2005Hurricane Rita308 households applied for aid$75K aid approved$123K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$31K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$75K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$33K to the City of Sugar Land for repairs41 flood claims paid for it, $296K
Fort Bend County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. 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 Fort Bend County, 2006–2006.
Old photos of Sugar Land after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sugar Land archive →Sugar Land and its neighbors
Sugar Land has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Land | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 241 |
| Richmond | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Stafford | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Missouri City | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 558 |
| Houston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 71,124 |
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.
Get ready for what Sugar Land 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.
- 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.
- Sugar Land residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sugar Land
Is Sugar Land at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sugar Land has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #365 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and hurricanes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sugar Land flood?
Flood insurance has paid 241 claims in Sugar Land since 1979, $5.9M in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (73).
Is Sugar Land 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 Fort Bend County, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 15.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sugar Land?
Sugar Land is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Sugar Land?
By FEMA money that reached Sugar Land, Hurricane Beryl (2024): 19,204 households applied for aid, $13.2M approved, and $5.8M to the City of Sugar Land for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 73 paid, $3.4M.
Is Sugar Land at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Sugar Land’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sugar Land.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sugar Land’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.