Enter any address in Bastrop County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Bastrop County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 95 flash flood events, alongside 7 general flood events and 1 tropical storm. Recent examples include flash flooding on May 1, 2021, caused by a moist airmass and locally heavy rain, and multiple flash flood events on May 3-4, 2019, associated with thunderstorms triggered by outflow boundaries.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A experienced higher average water depths (7.1 ft) and similar average payouts ($31,549) to Zone X properties, which had an average payout of $32,750 and an average water depth of 3.3 ft. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bastrop County, Texas has recorded 103 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 95 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 31 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1991–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 30, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Harvey | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | May 22, 2016 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Apr 17, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 22, 2015 |
| Hidden Pines Fire | Fire | Oct 13, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 3, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 7, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 27, 2017 | 1.50M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 27, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 26, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 1, 2021
An upper level low over the Big Bend region combined with a surface low over South Texas to generate thunderstorms. The airmass in which these storms developed was very moist with precipitable water values above the 90th percentile of the long term record. Some of these storms produced locally heavy rain that led to flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 4, 2019
Convection from the previous day left a number of outflow boundaries across South Central Texas. These interacted with a mid to upper level shortwave trough to trigger thunderstorms. Some of these storms produced tornadoes, large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rain that led to flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 3, 2019
Convection from the previous day left a number of outflow boundaries across South Central Texas. These interacted with a mid to upper level shortwave trough to trigger thunderstorms. Some of these storms produced tornadoes, large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rain that led to flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Dec 7, 2018
An upper level shortwave trough interacted with a surface stationary front to generate thunderstorms. These storms formed in a very moist airmass with PW values above 1.5 inches and some of them produced heavy rain that led to flash flooding.
Flood — Aug 27, 2017
Hurricane Harvey moved onshore as a Category 4 hurricane over San Jose Island east of Rockport during the late evening of August 25th. Harvey moved inland entering southern DeWitt County during the morning of August 26th as a Category 1 hurricane. It continued to weaken as it moved farther inland eventually reaching south central Gonzales County as a tropical storm during the late evening of A...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Bastrop County, Texas:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Bastrop County, Texas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.