Enter any address in Galveston County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the most frequent type of flood event in Galveston County, with 107 recorded incidents over the past 30 years. Coastal flooding also occurs, with 20 events documented in the same period. Recent examples include coastal flooding along the upper Texas coast in June 2024 associated with Tropical Storm Alberto, and flash flooding from storms in April 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $45,256 and an average water depth of 7.6 feet. Zone V properties, often located in coastal areas, have seen fewer claims but with a higher average water depth of 12.6 feet. Residents in coastal areas, as well as those in low-lying zones or areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
47 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Galveston County, Texas has recorded 153 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 107 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 31 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
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 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2020 |
| Tropical Storms Marco And Laura | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2020 |
| Hurricane Hanna | Hurricane | Jul 25, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Harvey | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 22, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jun 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 12, 2025
Storms occurring overnight, producing damaging winds, flooding and brief tornadoes.
Coastal Flood — Jan 9, 2025
Coastal flooding occurred on the Bolivar Peninsula on January 9th.
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2024
Evening through overnight storms produced a lot of flash flooding, a couple tornadoes, some winds damage and some hail.
Coastal Flood — Jun 19, 2024
A Potential Tropical Cyclone became Tropical Storm Alberto as it moved generally westward across the southern Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in the Tampico area. Coastal flooding occurred along the upper Texas coast.
Coastal Flood — Sep 11, 2024
Some coastal flooding occurred from Hurricane Francine.
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 Galveston 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 Galveston 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.