Flood insurance in Texas
Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Texas, county by county, from official FEMA records.
Flood claims paid per year
NFIP claims paid in Texas, 2000–2026
The three costliest years. The worst was 2017, with $9.1 billion paid on 93,589 claims.
Insured buildings by flood zone
Zone not reported for 35% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.
Costliest flood events
Named events by NFIP claims paid in Texas
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Harvey | 2017 | 91,872 | $9.0 billion |
| Hurricane Ike | 2008 | 44,095 | $2.2 billion |
| Tropical Storm Allison | 2001 | 26,821 | $978.1 million |
| Tropical Storm Imelda | 2019 | 10,937 | $752.9 million |
| Spring severe storms | 2016 | 8,414 | $472.7 million |
Flood insurance by county
Counties in Texas with detailed pages, by number of policies. 104 smaller counties are included in the state totals.
| County | Policies | Avg premium | Claims since 1978 | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 226,261 | $1,025 | 170,854 | $8.8 billion |
| Galveston County | 59,907 | $1,310 | 60,620 | $2.5 billion |
| Fort Bend County | 40,582 | $782 | 7,389 | $450.9 million |
| Brazoria County | 28,756 | $978 | 21,436 | $631.8 million |
| Nueces County | 26,541 | $1,045 | 8,673 | $186.7 million |
| Montgomery County | 22,105 | $837 | 13,035 | $633.8 million |
| Jefferson County | 20,310 | $1,051 | 22,715 | $1.2 billion |
| Cameron County | 19,406 | $919 | 7,061 | $184.7 million |
| Orange County | 11,906 | $1,271 | 12,876 | $1.0 billion |
| Hidalgo County | 9,657 | $548 | 4,405 | $117.9 million |
| Travis County | 8,815 | $980 | 4,418 | $114.9 million |
| Dallas County | 6,794 | $1,010 | 3,457 | $69.5 million |
| Tarrant County | 5,774 | $855 | 3,569 | $61.6 million |
| Bexar County | 5,236 | $997 | 2,309 | $33.8 million |
| Aransas County | 4,817 | $1,381 | 4,128 | $64.3 million |
| Chambers County | 3,624 | $915 | 2,096 | $129.5 million |
| El Paso County | 2,960 | $589 | 780 | $6.3 million |
| Hardin County | 2,706 | $788 | 2,405 | $191.1 million |
| Matagorda County | 2,591 | $1,262 | 2,137 | $24.8 million |
| San Patricio County | 2,425 | $891 | 1,981 | $19.8 million |
| Guadalupe County | 2,396 | $1,504 | 2,456 | $109.5 million |
| Denton County | 2,203 | $754 | 563 | $10.5 million |
| Taylor County | 2,146 | $751 | 936 | $15.6 million |
| Waller County | 2,077 | $767 | 878 | $44.0 million |
| Williamson County | 2,044 | $846 | 741 | $22.3 million |
| Comal County | 1,970 | $1,316 | 1,223 | $60.8 million |
| Liberty County | 1,928 | $769 | 3,306 | $109.2 million |
| Wharton County | 1,842 | $872 | 1,166 | $52.0 million |
| Hays County | 1,777 | $1,128 | 1,489 | $71.7 million |
| Calhoun County | 1,774 | $1,493 | 831 | $8.0 million |
| Collin County | 1,614 | $853 | 357 | $5.3 million |
| Brazos County | 1,379 | $625 | 569 | $7.6 million |
| Burnet County | 1,268 | $1,427 | 626 | $24.8 million |
| Midland County | 1,244 | $689 | 145 | $1.6 million |
| Llano County | 1,104 | $1,538 | 693 | $20.0 million |
| Ector County | 1,044 | $656 | 187 | $2.5 million |
| Victoria County | 1,029 | $679 | 744 | $11.3 million |
| McLennan County | 1,008 | $965 | 393 | $6.7 million |
| Lubbock County | 962 | $879 | 346 | $2.7 million |
| Bell County | 926 | $872 | 499 | $14.4 million |
| Webb County | 710 | $783 | 269 | $6.8 million |
| Wichita County | 696 | $884 | 1,295 | $19.9 million |
| Willacy County | 583 | $793 | 522 | $5.0 million |
| Johnson County | 582 | $920 | 333 | $4.9 million |
| Polk County | 558 | $950 | 346 | $10.1 million |
| Kerr County | 533 | $1,485 | 373 | $21.7 million |
| Ellis County | 526 | $987 | 159 | $6.0 million |
| Tom Green County | 523 | $717 | 206 | $6.5 million |
| Smith County | 511 | $916 | 311 | $4.7 million |
| Bastrop County | 510 | $1,110 | 331 | $9.9 million |
| Jackson County | 509 | $964 | 232 | $3.4 million |
| Austin County | 505 | $914 | 327 | $14.3 million |
| Brown County | 472 | $994 | 533 | $9.6 million |
| Grayson County | 336 | $983 | 743 | $18.3 million |
| Newton County | 268 | $772 | 552 | $28.0 million |
Common questions
How much does flood insurance cost in Texas?
The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Texas costs about $1,016 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.
How many homes have flood insurance in Texas?
There are about 568,310 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Texas, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.
How often does Texas flood?
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Texas have filed 394,204 flood claims, with $17.4 billion paid out. 124,721 of those claims were in the last 10 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.
How long until a new flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.
How to get flood insurance
Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.