More hazard damage per building is expected in Woodsboro than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodsboro gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (61%), then river and rain flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1997.
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 Woodsboro 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 Woodsboro’s grade
Hurricanes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodsboro, and Woodsboro’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Woodsboro’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Woodsboro: $992K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodsboro flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodsboro, from FEMA’s records: 17.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey3 claims · $88K
- The Thunderstorms1 claim · $21K
Woodsboro isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Refugio County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodsboro
Disasters that paid out in Woodsboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Woodsboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Harvey883 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$1.2M to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $88K
- 2008Hurricane Ike$1K to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita$2K to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita$6K to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Claudette117 households applied for aid$128K aid approved$7K to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs
Refugio County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Woodsboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodsboro archive →Get ready for what Woodsboro 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 Woodsboro
Is Woodsboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodsboro has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (61%) and river and rain flooding (34%). 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 Woodsboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Woodsboro since 1997, $248K in all, or 17.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (3).
Is Woodsboro 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 Refugio County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodsboro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodsboro’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 Woodsboro?
By FEMA money that reached Woodsboro, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 883 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $1.2M to the Town of Woodsboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 3 paid, $88K.
Is Woodsboro at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Woodsboro’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodsboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodsboro’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.