Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0Texarkana’s building-damage rate from hail is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texarkana gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #289 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%), then hail (28%). Flood insurance has paid 97 claims here since 1978.
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 Texarkana’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Texarkana 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
Tornadoes
Ice storms
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 Texarkana’s grade
River and rain flooding is 40% of the building damage FEMA expects in Texarkana, and Texarkana’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 28%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #289 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Texarkana’s residents live in 15 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, Texarkana has less expected damage per building than 55% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.9M a year in losses across Texarkana: $9.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Texarkana flood? Sometimes: 97 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Texarkana, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early summer storms2 claims · $403K
- Hurricane Beryl1 claim · $10K
Texarkana isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bowie County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Texarkana
Disasters that paid out in Texarkana itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Texarkana), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl1,140 households applied for aid$473K aid approved$94K to the City of Texarkana for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$58K to the City of Texarkana for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms973 households applied for aid$610K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding36 households applied for aid$192K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike$229K to the City of Texarkana for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$102K to the City of Texarkana for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$3.0M to the City of Texarkana for repairs
- 1999Tx, Tornado 5/4/99$12K to the City of Texarkana for repairs
Bowie County has had 19 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Bowie County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Texarkana after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Texarkana archive →Texarkana and its neighbors
Texarkana is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nash | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Texarkana | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 97 |
| Wake Village | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Texarkana | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 95 |
| Red Lick | — | not graded yet | |
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 Texarkana 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.
- 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.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- 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 Texarkana
Is Texarkana at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texarkana has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #289 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%) and hail (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Texarkana flood?
Flood insurance has paid 97 claims in Texarkana since 1978, $1.9M in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer storms (2).
Is Texarkana 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 Bowie County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Texarkana?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Texarkana’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 Texarkana?
By FEMA money that reached Texarkana, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2000): $3.0M to the City of Texarkana for repairs. By flood claims, Early summer storms: 2 paid, $403K.
Is Texarkana at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (40%), and Texarkana’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Texarkana.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Texarkana’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.