Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Vidor than in 89% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vidor gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #627 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (47%), then river and rain flooding (43%). Flood insurance has paid 1,801 claims here since 1979.
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 Vidor’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vidor faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Vidor’s grade
Hurricanes are 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vidor, and Vidor’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
D #627 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vidor’s residents live in 7 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, Vidor has more expected damage per building than 98% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.3M a year in losses across Vidor: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vidor flood? Yes: 1,801 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vidor, from FEMA’s records: 378.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Imelda739 claims · $69.7M
- Hurricane Harvey363 claims · $43.6M
- Hurricane Rita109 claims · $3.6M
Vidor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vidor
Disasters that paid out in Vidor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Vidor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl721 households applied for aid$906K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms233 households applied for aid$130K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Laura$96K to the City of Vidor for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Tropical Storm Imelda2,243 households applied for aid$8.1M aid approved739 flood claims paid for it, $69.7M
- 2017Hurricane Harvey9,709 households applied for aid$58.2M aid approved$966K to the City of Vidor for repairs363 flood claims paid for it, $43.6M
Show all 13
- 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding52 households applied for aid$52K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike7,595 households applied for aid$5.7M aid approved$277K to the City of Vidor for repairs55 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$23K to the City of Vidor for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita13,749 households applied for aid$31.8M aid approved$300K to the City of Vidor for repairs109 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2005Hurricane Rita$13K to the City of Vidor for repairs109 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding221 households applied for aid$596K aid approved99 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$3K to the City of Vidor for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $412K
Orange County has had 24 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.
Old photos of Vidor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vidor archive →Vidor and its neighbors
Vidor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauriceville | Dmore damage than 88% | hurricanes | — |
| Vidor | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | 1,801 |
| Rose City | — | 391 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 Vidor faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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.
- 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 Vidor
Is Vidor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vidor has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #627 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (47%) and river and rain flooding (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vidor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,801 claims in Vidor since 1979, $125M in all, or 378.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 340 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Imelda (739).
Is Vidor 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 Orange County, 29.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Vidor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vidor’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 Vidor?
By FEMA money that reached Vidor, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 9,709 households applied for aid, $58.2M approved, and $966K to the City of Vidor for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Imelda: 739 paid, $69.7M.
Is Vidor at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Vidor’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vidor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vidor’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.