FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Texas than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texas gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2026.
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 Texas 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
Tornadoes
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 Texas’ grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Texas, and Texas’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Texas’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $891K a year in losses across Texas: $515K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Texas flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2026
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Texas, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $2K
Texas isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marathon County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Texas
Disasters that paid out in Texas itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Texas), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$22K to the Town of Texas for repairs
Marathon County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Texas after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Texas archive →Texas and its neighbors
Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Maine | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wausau | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wausau | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Pine River | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hewitt | — | 511 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 Texas 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.
- 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.
- 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 Texas
Is Texas at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texas has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (9%). 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 Texas flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Texas since 2026, $2K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Texas 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 Marathon County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Texas?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Texas’ 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 Texas?
By FEMA money that reached Texas, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): $22K to the Town of Texas for repairs. By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Texas at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Texas’ rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Texas.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Texas’ 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.