FEMA puts Westway’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westway gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #10 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hail (24%). 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 Westway 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
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 Westway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westway, and Westway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 24%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #10 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Westway’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Westway has less expected damage per building than 99% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $332K a year in losses across Westway: $172K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westway flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Westway. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Westway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: El Paso County.The storms Westway remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for El Paso County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Westway itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
El Paso County has had 10 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.
Westway and its neighbors
Westway is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Westway 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.
- 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 Westway
Is Westway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westway has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #10 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hail (24%). 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.
Is Westway 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 El Paso County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Westway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westway’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Westway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Westway’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westway’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.