Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Yoakum faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yoakum gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #315 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2009.
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 Yoakum 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
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 Yoakum’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yoakum, and Yoakum’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 41% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #315 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yoakum’s residents live in 3 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, Yoakum has less expected damage per building than 51% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Yoakum: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yoakum flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yoakum, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Yoakum isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lavaca County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yoakum
Disasters that paid out in Yoakum itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Yoakum), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storms117 households applied for aid$38K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey296 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$223K to the City of Yoakum for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Claudette4 households applied for aid$376 aid approved
Lavaca County has had 14 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 Yoakum after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yoakum archive →Get ready for what Yoakum 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.
- 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 Yoakum
Is Yoakum at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yoakum has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #315 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yoakum flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Yoakum since 2009, $50K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Yoakum 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 Lavaca County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Yoakum?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yoakum’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 Yoakum?
By FEMA money that reached Yoakum, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 296 households applied for aid, $90K approved, and $223K to the City of Yoakum for repairs.
Is Yoakum at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Yoakum’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yoakum.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yoakum’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.