5,221 residents·in Shelby County·6 flood claims county-wide
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Center, Texas. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
The map above shows FEMA’s flood zones in and around Center; tap any spot, or search an address, for the exact zone. FEMA’s flood insurance records are kept by county, not by city, so the numbers below are for all of Shelby County, which includes Center.
19% of Shelby County’s area is in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones, and another 1% in shaded X (mostly the 0.2% floodplain and areas behind levees).
The worst year was 2008, with 1 claims and $64,900 paid, the year of Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
Full Shelby County flood history: disasters, storm reports and events →
If a building is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
The average NFIP premium across Texas was $1,007 a year on August 31, 2026 (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top). Risk Rating 2.0 prices each building on its own flood risk, so a quote can be far from the average.
Outside the high-risk zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Quotes: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.