Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0For tornadoes, Venus’s building-damage rate is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Venus gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #219 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then tornadoes (20%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Venus’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Venus 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
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 Venus’ grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Venus, and Venus’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #219 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Venus’ residents live in 4 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, Venus has less expected damage per building than 66% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Venus: $592K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Venus flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Venus. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Venus isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Johnson County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Venus
Disasters that paid out in Venus itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Venus), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms93 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding10 households applied for aid$47K aid approved
Johnson County has had 11 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.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Johnson County, 2000–2006.
Old photos of Venus after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Venus archive →Venus and its neighbors
Venus is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvarado | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Venus | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Venus 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.
- 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 Venus
Is Venus at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Venus has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #219 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Venus 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 Johnson County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Venus?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Venus’ 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 Venus?
By FEMA money that reached Venus, Severe Winter Storms (2021): 93 households applied for aid, $63K approved.
Is Venus at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Venus’ rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Venus.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Venus’ 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.