Flood zones, flood insurance and FEMA help, in plain English

Texas flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

394,204NFIP flood claims since 1978
$17.4 billionPaid on those claims
$103,863Average paid claimlast 10 years
5.8%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
$1,090Typical yearly NFIP costsingle-family home
22Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 394,204 flood insurance claims in Texas since 1978. The NFIP paid $17.4 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2017, with 93,589, mostly from Hurricane Harvey.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 124,721 claims, and the average paid claim was $103,863.

51% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 5.8% of homes in Texas had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (504,754 of 8,773,166 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 48% (171,141 of 360,062).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 22 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Texas. The most recent was DR-4935-TX (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared September 1, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in Texas by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Texas, 1978 to 2026025k50k75k100k1978: 673 claims, $2.7 million paid1979: 21,721 claims, $217.8 million paid1980: 7,154 claims, $34.1 million paid19801981: 10,097 claims, $57.2 million paid1982: 2,359 claims, $15.3 million paid1983: 17,691 claims, $152.7 million paid1984: 2,964 claims, $23.8 million paid1985: 2,065 claims, $9.8 million paid1986: 1,363 claims, $6.7 million paid1987: 1,821 claims, $9.9 million paid1988: 695 claims, $3.6 million paid1989: 13,158 claims, $154.7 million paid1990: 1,772 claims, $23.7 million paid19901991: 3,494 claims, $34.2 million paid1992: 4,106 claims, $59.3 million paid1993: 1,280 claims, $10.2 million paid1994: 7,948 claims, $226.2 million paid1995: 1,937 claims, $14.8 million paid1996: 1,055 claims, $10.2 million paid1997: 3,408 claims, $36.8 million paid1998: 12,582 claims, $265.3 million paid1999: 1,361 claims, $8.7 million paid2000: 1,379 claims, $14.7 million paid20002001: 29,242 claims, $1.0 billion paid2002: 9,505 claims, $199.1 million paid2003: 3,867 claims, $53.3 million paid2004: 2,907 claims, $61.0 million paid2005: 4,564 claims, $57.6 million paid2006: 4,705 claims, $99.4 million paid2007: 4,280 claims, $91.6 million paid2008: 47,167 claims, $2.3 billion paid2009: 6,533 claims, $172.6 million paid2010: 2,659 claims, $72.5 million paid20102011: 271 claims, $1.5 million paid2012: 2,104 claims, $35.9 million paid2013: 1,933 claims, $63.4 million paid2014: 1,159 claims, $15.4 million paid2015: 12,576 claims, $582.3 million paid2016: 13,928 claims, $703.7 million paid2017: 93,589 claims, $9.1 billion paid2018: 3,280 claims, $121.0 million paid2019: 13,982 claims, $871.8 million paid2020: 2,286 claims, $44.4 million paid20202021: 2,532 claims, $46.0 million paid2022: 690 claims, $18.2 million paid2023: 565 claims, $14.7 million paid2024: 4,718 claims, $162.4 million paid2025: 2,425 claims, $158.6 million paid2026: 654 claims, $22.6 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026654$22.6 million
20252,425$158.6 million
20244,718$162.4 million
2023565$14.7 million
2022690$18.2 million
20212,532$46.0 million
20202,286$44.4 million
201913,982$871.8 million
20183,280$121.0 million
201793,589$9.1 billion
201613,928$703.7 million
201512,576$582.3 million
20141,159$15.4 million
20131,933$63.4 million
20122,104$35.9 million
2011271$1.5 million
20102,659$72.5 million
20096,533$172.6 million
200847,167$2.3 billion
20074,280$91.6 million
20064,705$99.4 million
20054,564$57.6 million
20042,907$61.0 million
20033,867$53.3 million
20029,505$199.1 million
200129,242$1.0 billion
20001,379$14.7 million
19991,361$8.7 million
199812,582$265.3 million
19973,408$36.8 million
19961,055$10.2 million
19951,937$14.8 million
19947,948$226.2 million
19931,280$10.2 million
19924,106$59.3 million
19913,494$34.2 million
19901,772$23.7 million
198913,158$154.7 million
1988695$3.6 million
19871,821$9.9 million
19861,363$6.7 million
19852,065$9.8 million
19842,964$23.8 million
198317,691$152.7 million
19822,359$15.3 million
198110,097$57.2 million
19807,154$34.1 million
197921,721$217.8 million
1978673$2.7 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Texas, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Harvey201791,872$9.0 billion
Hurricane Ike200844,095$2.2 billion
Tropical Storm Allison200126,821$978.1 million
Tropical Storm Imelda201910,937$752.9 million
Spring severe storms20168,414$472.7 million
Early summer storms20157,983$472.3 million
Flooding199810,115$224.8 million
Flooding19947,050$217.6 million
Early summer severe storms20163,587$185.3 million
Tropical Storm Claudette197910,665$144.4 million

What flood insurance costs in Texas

On June 30, 2026, 574,698 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Texas. For the 483,948 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,090; the average was $1,150.

Rated flood zonePoliciesTypical yearly cost, single-family homeAverage costAverage building coverage
High-risk zones (A and V)206,807$1,240$1,490$214,000
Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X)367,800$1,060$990$234,000

Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.

Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Rated zonePoliciesAverage cost, single-family home
X347,947$990
AE163,270$1,490
A15,596$1,180
VE10,592$2,390
B10,546$1,040
C9,307$930
AH6,332$860
AO3,992$970
A132,789$1,840
V22520n/a
A01415$870
A03393$820
AHB367$810
A18306$1,750
A08289$2,150

Flood history by county

Every Texas county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredTypical NFIP costFlood declarations
Harris County170,854$8.8 billion16.6%$1,0908
Galveston County60,620$2.5 billion42.2%$1,1402
Jefferson County22,715$1.2 billion22.0%$1,0903
Brazoria County21,436$631.8 million22.5%$1,0905
Montgomery County13,035$633.8 million10.7%$1,0107
Orange County12,876$1.0 billion29.8%$1,1105
Nueces County8,673$186.7 million17.4%$1,0905
Fort Bend County7,389$450.9 million15.4%$9605
Cameron County7,061$184.7 million9.7%$6605
Travis County4,418$114.9 million2.0%$1,0408
Hidalgo County4,405$117.9 million3.7%$6407
Aransas County4,128$64.3 million25.5%$1,3102
Tarrant County3,569$61.6 million0.9%$8403
Dallas County3,457$69.5 million0.8%$9403
Liberty County3,306$109.2 million5.9%$7909
Guadalupe County2,456$109.5 million3.6%$1,4406
Hardin County2,405$191.1 million12.2%$9406
Bexar County2,309$33.8 million0.8%$9402
Matagorda County2,137$24.8 million15.1%$1,2101
Chambers County2,096$129.5 million22.7%$1,0102
San Patricio County1,981$19.8 million9.0%$8404
Hays County1,489$71.7 million2.3%$1,0905
Wichita County1,295$19.9 million1.3%$8602
Comal County1,223$60.8 million2.4%$1,2404
Wharton County1,166$52.0 million10.0%$9103
Taylor County936$15.6 million3.8%$7402
Waller County878$44.0 million11.0%$8905
Calhoun County831$8.0 million14.4%$1,3603
El Paso County780$6.3 million1.1%$6601
Victoria County744$11.3 million2.8%$6603
Grayson County743$18.3 million0.5%$9902
Williamson County741$22.3 million1.1%$8403
Llano County693$20.0 million7.1%$1,4903
Burnet County626$24.8 million5.0%$1,4604
Brazos County569$7.6 million2.0%$7102
Denton County563$10.5 million0.7%$7603
Newton County552$28.0 million4.5%$8105
Brown County533$9.6 million2.2%$1,0406
Willacy County522$5.0 million9.7%$8103
Bell County499$14.4 million0.7%$7402
San Jacinto County491$10.2 million2.3%$1,1107
McLennan County393$6.7 million1.0%$7602
Walker County392$15.6 million2.3%$99010
Potter County387$5.4 million0.4%$5600
Kerr County373$21.7 million2.4%$1,2404
Cooke County370$10.5 million1.0%$1,0603
Collin County357$5.3 million0.5%$8402
Lubbock County346$2.7 million0.7%$8602
Polk County346$10.1 million2.5%$1,0905
Johnson County333$4.9 million0.8%$9601
Bastrop County331$9.9 million1.3%$1,0904
Angelina County328$5.4 million0.9%$1,0603
Randall County328$3.3 million0.6%$6900
Austin County327$14.3 million3.9%$1,0405
Smith County311$4.7 million0.6%$8906
Limestone County291$4.8 million0.7%$1,0602
Kleberg County279$2.2 million4.6%$1,0402
Parker County278$4.5 million1.0%$1,0605
Webb County269$6.8 million0.7%$6602
Harrison County260$5.7 million0.5%$9605
Kendall County253$4.5 million2.6%$1,0905
Bowie County242$5.2 million0.7%$8103
Nacogdoches County241$4.1 million0.6%$9103
Gregg County239$4.0 million0.6%$9902
Jackson County232$3.4 million6.5%$1,0900
Jasper County228$7.5 million2.4%$9607
DeWitt County227$5.9 million2.4%$1,0102
Gonzales County219$6.4 million1.7%$1,3104
Bandera County218$5.9 million2.0%$1,2104
Tom Green County206$6.5 million1.4%$7102
Ector County187$2.5 million1.5%$7100
Jim Wells County187$1.6 million2.9%$6905
Tyler County187$3.9 million1.1%$9905
Brooks County185$1.2 million3.3%$1,0100
Caldwell County180$7.4 million1.4%$1,0906
Hood County179$3.6 million1.7%$1,0904
Haskell County176$2.3 million1.9%$6403
Eastland County171$5.1 million0.8%$1,0105
Val Verde County163$3.6 million1.1%$1,1603
Maverick County162$5.6 million0.7%$7402
Ellis County159$6.0 million0.8%$1,0404
Medina County148$3.7 million1.9%$1,0603
Midland County145$1.6 million1.9%$8400
Trinity County140$2.5 million0.5%$5605
Lamar County139$2.6 million0.7%$8104
Fayette County133$8.4 million1.4%$1,0903
Uvalde County130$6.7 million2.0%$1,0907
Refugio County122$2.0 million3.3%$8402
Jones County119$4.0 million1.2%$9407
Lavaca County115$1.5 million1.5%$1,0900
Navarro County108$2.6 million0.7%$9906
Palo Pinto County97$1.4 million1.0%$1,0902
Wise County94$2.5 million0.5%$1,0902
Bee County90$1.3 million2.9%$9102
Henderson County90$3.4 million0.6%$1,0605
Grimes County89$1.4 million2.0%$7607
Starr County84$2.0 million0.9%$9103
Young County84$497,9960.7%$7601
Colorado County83$4.4 million3.4%$1,0902
Kaufman County77$2.1 million0.5%$9404
Montague County77$1.5 million0.8%$1,0903
Coryell County72$1.1 million0.5%$7605
Washington County71$1.7 million1.4%$7605
Wilson County71$2.0 million0.9%$1,0604
Stephens County68$896,1432.7%$7102
Cherokee County66$624,6740.5%$1,1105
Burleson County63$1.5 million1.0%$7103
Hunt County63$1.6 million0.4%$1,0901
Rusk County62$382,5540.3%$7903
Rockwall County61$1.5 million0.5%$9402
Fannin County60$1.7 million1.0%$9904
Real County60$683,8926.3%$1,2907
Live Oak County56$928,0412.0%$1,2103
Nolan County56$1.1 million1.0%$8902
Robertson County53$1.5 million1.8%$8403
Clay County48$1.7 million0.8%$9902
Zavala County47$776,4161.4%$7605
Marion County46$689,5450.3%n/a2
Blanco County43$2.5 million1.4%$1,0904
Bosque County43$1.5 million0.8%$8906
Lampasas County43$754,9641.3%$8903
Van Zandt County40$1.6 million0.5%$1,0105
Menard County38$290,1475.9%$9405
Atascosa County36$515,9010.6%$9604
Hopkins County36$304,1930.4%$8905
Somervell County34$632,5901.4%$1,3402
Hill County31$462,5780.5%$1,0105
Howard County31$479,7630.4%$6100
Cass County30$773,2710.2%n/a6
Sutton County30$894,3650.7%n/a4
Houston County28$382,7700.8%$7605
San Saba County28$1.3 million3.7%$9605
Madison County26$451,8980.6%$8907
Lee County25$648,0030.4%$7603
Archer County24$889,4001.1%$7603
Shackelford County23$114,1251.0%n/a2
Erath County21$669,6500.4%$9404
Anderson County19$292,9900.3%$8604
Gillespie County19$738,2871.2%$9904
La Salle County19$114,3530.1%n/a3
Kimble County18$389,4101.8%$1,2604
Duval County17$299,1570.5%$7903
Freestone County17$587,3940.3%$8602
Goliad County16$423,7041.5%$8901
Hockley County15$131,5330.5%$5902
Karnes County15$104,6560.4%$1,0101
Milam County15$200,3240.4%$6405
Yoakum County14$72,6321.0%$1,3400
Coleman County13$138,5050.3%n/a4
Franklin County13$326,2670.2%n/a2
Hale County13$34,3530.5%$5400
Terry County13$84,4440.2%n/a1
Brewster County12$52,1722.8%$8901
Comanche County12$73,4950.4%$7904
Dimmit County11$475,9890.6%n/a4
Jim Hogg County11$37,0560.6%n/a1
Wood County11$154,5340.3%$8601
Dawson County10$142,6030.3%n/a0
Deaf Smith County10$33,0180.1%n/a1
Gaines County10$57,7530.1%n/a1
Wilbarger County10$186,9140.3%n/a2
Falls County9$177,6850.0%n/a2
Fisher County8$66,5900.0%n/a2
Leon County8$129,7580.4%$7605
Rains County8$254,8850.2%n/a2
Upshur County8$180,9120.2%$7903
Donley County7$7,1750.3%n/a1
Kinney County7$158,7810.7%n/a3
Panola County7$67,1660.1%n/a2
Zapata County7$97,6390.5%$6600
Callahan County6$46,0800.2%n/a6
Frio County6$56,8600.1%n/a4
Jack County6$284,4870.2%n/a1
Lipscomb County6$237,8450.9%n/a0
Mitchell County6$52,9000.1%n/a0
Runnels County6$140,2370.2%n/a1
San Augustine County6$82,2830.9%$9104
Scurry County6$14,1060.1%n/a1
Shelby County6$99,0260.2%n/a4
Titus County6$248,8790.2%$7603
Mason County5$119,0620.5%n/a5
Morris County5$26,9070.3%n/a2
Sabine County5$25,6390.1%n/a4
Collingsworth County4$17,3161.4%$5402
Baylor County3$22,6020.4%n/a4
Camp County3$6,8870.0%n/a0
Carson County3$36,3110.3%n/a0
Crockett County3$26,6621.0%n/a2
Dallam County3$8840.3%n/a0
Gray County3$5,0510.0%n/a0
Presidio County3$24,0320.6%n/a0
Terrell County3$5,1590.3%n/a2
Throckmorton County3$158,5520.1%n/a4
Hall County2$2,7610.1%n/a3
Hamilton County2$5,5230.1%n/a3
Hutchinson County2$14,5150.1%n/a0
Irion County2$13,4100.7%n/a0
McMullen County2$6421.9%n/a2
Reeves County2$1,0200.3%n/a1
Childress County1$7,8000.0%n/a1
Concho County1$26,3450.1%n/a2
Crosby County1$32,5190.3%n/a1
Culberson County1$63,1120.5%n/a0
Delta County1$2,8410.0%n/a4
Garza County1$11,8530.1%n/a1
Hansford County1$9660.0%n/a0
Hartley County1$3,5350.1%n/a1
Hudspeth County1$245,3140.4%n/a1
Kenedy County1$59,3280.8%n/a0
Lamb County1$00.1%n/a1
Lynn County1$21,7270.0%n/a2
Martin County1$3900.4%n/a0
McCulloch County1$18,9900.5%n/a4
Schleicher County1$00.1%n/a4
Stonewall County1$5,9520.0%n/a1
Swisher County1$9,0640.4%n/a0
Wheeler County1$29,9640.3%n/a1
Andrews County0$00.0%n/a0
Armstrong County0$00.0%n/a0
Bailey County0$00.5%n/a2
Borden County0$00.0%n/a1
Briscoe County0$00.0%n/a0
Castro County0$00.2%n/a1
Cochran County0$00.1%n/a2
Coke County0$00.3%n/a2
Cottle County0$00.0%n/a2
Crane County0$00.0%n/a0
Dickens County0$00.0%n/a2
Edwards County0$00.0%n/a6
Floyd County0$00.0%n/a1
Foard County0$00.1%n/a1
Glasscock County0$00.0%n/a0
Hardeman County0$00.0%n/a1
Hemphill County0$00.0%n/a0
Jeff Davis County0$00.7%n/a0
Kent County0$00.0%n/a1
King County0$00.0%n/a1
Knox County0$00.1%n/a2
Loving County0$00.0%n/a0
Mills County0$00.1%n/a2
Moore County0$00.1%n/a0
Motley County0$00.0%n/a1
Ochiltree County0$00.0%n/a0
Oldham County0$00.0%n/a0
Parmer County0$00.0%n/a1
Pecos County0$00.2%n/a1
Reagan County0$00.0%n/a0
Red River County0$00.0%n/a4
Roberts County0$00.0%n/a0
Sherman County0$00.0%n/a0
Sterling County0$00.0%n/a1
Upton County0$00.0%n/a0
Ward County0$00.1%n/a0
Winkler County0$00.0%n/a0

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Texas

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4935-TX Sep 1, 2026 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
EM-3649-TX Jul 18, 2026 Flooding No
DR-4879-TX Jul 6, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4871-TX May 21, 2025 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4781-TX May 17, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4466-TX Oct 4, 2019 Tropical Storm Imelda Yes
DR-4454-TX Jul 17, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4416-TX Feb 25, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4377-TX Jul 6, 2018 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4272-TX Jun 11, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4269-TX Apr 25, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4266-TX Mar 19, 2016 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4255-TX Feb 9, 2016 Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4245-TX Nov 25, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4223-TX May 29, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding Yes
DR-4159-TX Dec 20, 2013 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1791-TX Sep 13, 2008 Hurricane Ike Yes
DR-1709-TX Jun 29, 2007 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1658-TX Aug 15, 2006 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1439-TX Nov 5, 2002 Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Yes
DR-1425-TX Jul 4, 2002 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1323-TX Apr 7, 2000 Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Yes

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.