Photo: nsaum75¡שיחת! · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Webster faces more hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Webster gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #480 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 426 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 Webster’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Webster 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
Hurricanes
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 Webster’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Webster, and Webster’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #480 of 642 in Texas; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Webster’s residents live in 8 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, Webster has more expected damage per building than 75% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Webster: $4.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Webster flood? Yes: 426 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Webster, from FEMA’s records: 64.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey107 claims · $6.5M
- Hurricane Chantel66 claims · $576K
- Tropical Storm Claudette66 claims · $876K
Webster isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Harris County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Webster
Disasters that paid out in Webster itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Webster), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl2,859 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$187K to the City of Webster for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding161 households applied for aid$62K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms539 households applied for aid$107K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storms Marco and Laura$117K to the City of Webster for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Harvey3,176 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved$448K to the City of Webster for repairs107 flood claims paid for it, $6.5M
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding219 households applied for aid$476K aid approved11 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2008Hurricane Ike2,827 households applied for aid$313K aid approved$666K to the City of Webster for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $862K
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,276 households applied for aid$336K aid approved$81K to the City of Webster for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita$72K to the City of Webster for repairs
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$12K to the City of Webster for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $723K
Harris County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe 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 Harris County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Webster after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Webster archive →Webster and its neighbors
Webster has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 426 |
| Nassau Bay | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1,192 |
| League City | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4,320 |
| Friendswood | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 4,386 |
| Houston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 71,124 |
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 Webster 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.
- 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.
- 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 Webster
Is Webster at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Webster has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #480 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Webster flood?
Flood insurance has paid 426 claims in Webster since 1979, $12.1M in all, or 64.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (107).
Is Webster 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 Harris County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Webster?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Webster’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 Webster?
By FEMA money that reached Webster, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 3,176 households applied for aid, $3.1M approved, and $448K to the City of Webster for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 107 paid, $6.5M.
Is Webster at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Webster’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Webster.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Webster’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.