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A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Terrell · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Terrell than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Terrell gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #114 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1985.

River and rain flooding 59%Tornadoes 20%Hail 14%

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

less than 78%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#114 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
A−#114 of 642
in Texas · lower than 78% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
59% of expected building damage
Flood claims
12
paid since 1985 · $112K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
5
of 14 declared for Kaufman County

What stands out about Terrell’s natural hazards

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

Lower expected damage than 78% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Made safer with FEMA grants6 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Terrell 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

59%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

20%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

14%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Earthquakes Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves top 2% Hurricanes Lightning Ice storms Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 14% of Terrell’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), 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 Terrell’s grade

River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Terrell, and Terrell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Terrell sits
Terrell
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #114 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Terrell’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding59%Tornadoes20%Hail14%Everything else6%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Terrell has less expected damage per building than 82% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Terrell: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in 2024, FEMA took 1,104 aid registrations from Terrell addresses (the town has 6,167 homes).
A firm figure. It combines 8 census tracts by where Terrell’s 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 Terrell flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1985

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Terrell, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1985: 1 claim1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 2 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198519891990
19852026
Biggest named events
  • The Early summer storms1 claim · $12K
12
paid claims since 1985
$112K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$9K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Kaufman County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
6storm safe rooms built
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Terrell

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

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,104 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$539K to the City of Terrell for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2021Severe Winter Storms364 households applied for aid$267K aid approved
  3. 2017Hurricane Harvey1 households applied for aid$500 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2015Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$447K to the City of Terrell for repairs
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$653K to the City of Terrell for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in TerrellKaufman County only

Kaufman County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Terrell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Terrell archive →
Next door

Terrell and its neighbors

Terrell has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Elmo: hazard risk B+Oak Ridge: hazard risk B+ElmoOak RidgeTerrell
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
TerrellA−less damage than 78%river and rain flooding12
ElmoB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding—
Oak RidgeB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding—

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 Terrell 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
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 Terrell

Is Terrell at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Terrell has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #114 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Terrell flood?

Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Terrell since 1985, $112K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer storms (1).

Is Terrell 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 Kaufman County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Terrell?

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

By FEMA money that reached Terrell, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): 1,104 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved, and $539K to the City of Terrell for repairs. By flood claims, Early summer storms: 1 paid, $12K.

Is Terrell at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Terrell’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Terrell.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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