Enter any address in Chambers County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Chambers County, TX, with 44 occurrences recorded over the last 30 years. Recent examples include localized flooding from heavy rainfall in late November 2023 and widespread flash flooding in April 2024. Tropical storms also pose a significant risk, with 11 events noted in the same period, including Hurricane Nicholas which made landfall in September 2021, bringing heavy rain and wind damage.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $86,139 and an average water depth of 2.5 feet. However, properties in Zone A have seen higher average payouts and significantly deeper water, averaging 16.1 feet. Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those in Zone A or Zone X_SHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
26 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chambers County, Texas has recorded 63 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 44 flash floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1979–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Beryl | Hurricane | Jul 5, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Tropical Storms Marco And Laura | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Tropical Storm Imelda | Flood | Sep 17, 2019 |
| Hurricane Harvey | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2017 |
| Hurricane Ike | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2008 |
| Hurricane Gustav | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2021 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 19, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 19, 2019 | 80.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2024
Evening through overnight storms produced a lot of flash flooding, a couple tornadoes, some winds damage and some hail.
Flash Flood — Nov 30, 2023
Numerous thunderstorms produced areas of 3 to locally 6 inches of rain...leading to localized flooding.
Tropical Storm — Sep 13, 2021
Nicholas formed on September 12 in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico, slowly advancing northeastward along the Middle Texas Coast. It eventually made landfall 10 miles west of Sargent just after midnight on September 14, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 mph. Heavy rain bands associated with Nicholas brought widespread rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches to the Southeast Texas Coast, while s...
Tropical Storm — Oct 9, 2020
Delta made landfall along the southwest Louisiana coast but produced tropical storm force winds across parts of Southeast Texas. Delta also produced high surf and elevated tides leading to mainly minor coastal flooding along Gulf facing beaches and around Galveston Bay.
Flash Flood — Sep 19, 2019
A weak surface low pressure system strengthened into Tropical Storm Imelda just after noon on September 17th around 15 miles south southwest of Freeport. Imelda moved onshore near Freeport and quickly weakened to a tropical depression. Imelda moved very slowly to the north-northwest then north-northeast over the next few days and produced a few heavy rain bands that caused devastating flooding ...
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 Chambers 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 Chambers 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.