Enter any address in Clay County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Clay County, TX. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 16 recorded flash flood events and 9 general flood events. For instance, multiple rounds of severe convection and flooding occurred from April 29th into the morning of April 30th, 2025. Additionally, scattered to widespread showers produced flash flooding on June 1st and 2nd, 2016.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $30,836 and an average water depth of 8.0 feet. While Zone X claims are fewer, they show a higher average payout of $50,568, though with a much lower average water depth of 0.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in areas with less defined flood risk like Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Clay County, Texas has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 26, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2015 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 30, 2011 |
| Mcdonald 2 Fire | Fire | Jun 19, 2011 |
| 148/2332 Fire | Fire | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 6, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 19, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 9, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 17, 2006 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2025
Multiple rounds of severe convection and flooding occurred from the predawn hours of the 29th into morning hours of the 30th. The most significant round of severe thunderstorm activity occurred across portions of western-north Texas on the evening of the 29th, where intense supercell thunderstorms produced very large hail, damaging wind gusts and a pair of significant (EF-2+) tornadoes.
Flood — Jun 2, 2016
With a front lingering in the region and a cut off low moving overhead, scattered to widespread showers formed across Oklahoma and north Texas the morning of the 1st and continued through the 2nd producing some flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 2, 2016
With a front lingering in the region and a cut off low moving overhead, scattered to widespread showers formed across Oklahoma and north Texas the morning of the 1st and continued through the 2nd producing some flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 1, 2016
With a front lingering in the region and a cut off low moving overhead, scattered to widespread showers formed across Oklahoma and north Texas the morning of the 1st and continued through the 2nd producing some flash flooding.
Flood — Aug 19, 2008
An unseasonably strong upper level storm system moved over northern Texas, beginning on the 18th and continuing through parts of the 19th. Abundant moisture was in place ahead of the storm system and even increased as the storm system began moving east over the Red River. Several waves of heavy showers and thunderstorms occurred, resulting in extremely high precipitation totals and widespread f...
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 Clay 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 Clay 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.