First Presbyterian Church · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Van Horn than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Horn gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then wildfire (10%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2020.
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 Van Horn 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
Wildfire
Hail
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 Van Horn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Van Horn, and Van Horn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Van Horn’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Van Horn: $645K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Van Horn flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Van Horn, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Van Horn isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Culberson County.The storms Van Horn remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Culberson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Van Horn itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20201 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Culberson County has had 7 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.
Old photos of Van Horn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Van Horn archive →Get ready for what Van Horn 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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.
- 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 Van Horn
Is Van Horn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Horn has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and wildfire (10%). 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 Van Horn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Van Horn since 2020, $63K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Van Horn 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 Culberson County, 0.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Van Horn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Van Horn’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Van Horn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Van Horn’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Van Horn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Van Horn’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.