The Colony’s building-damage rate from hail is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, The Colony gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #216 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then hail (22%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1994.
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 The Colony’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What The Colony 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
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 The Colony’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in The Colony, and The Colony’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 22%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #216 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
The Colony’s residents live in 12 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, The Colony has less expected damage per building than 66% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.0M a year in losses across The Colony: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does The Colony flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in The Colony, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
The Colony isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Denton County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to The Colony
Disasters that paid out in The Colony itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of The Colony), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding182 households applied for aid$177K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms366 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$31K to the City of The Colony for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding32 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$77K to the City of The Colony for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$36K to the City of The Colony for repairs
Denton County has had 17 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 Denton County, 2006–2006.
Old photos of The Colony after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the The Colony archive →The Colony and its neighbors
The Colony has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Colony | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Little Elm | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lewisville | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Carrollton | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Frisco | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Plano | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 71 |
| Hebron | — | 253 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 The Colony 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.
- 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 The Colony
Is The Colony at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, The Colony has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #216 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and hail (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does The Colony flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in The Colony since 1994, $40K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is The Colony 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 Denton County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in The Colony?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for The Colony’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 The Colony?
By FEMA money that reached The Colony, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): 182 households applied for aid, $177K approved.
Is The Colony at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and The Colony’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in The Colony.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where The Colony’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.