Enter any address in Kenedy County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Storm surge and tropical storms are the primary flood drivers in Kenedy County. Recent events include coastal run-up and beach erosion from strong high pressure and Gulf low pressure in June 2024, and Tropical Storm Harold making landfall on Padre Island National Seashore in August 2023 with winds over 60 mph.
While Kenedy County has experienced 21 flood-related events in the last 30 years, including storm surge, tropical storms, hurricanes, and coastal floods, the National Flood Insurance Program has recorded one claim in Zone X_Unshaded, with an average payout of $59,328 for an average water depth of 0.0 feet. Homeowners in coastal areas and those without properties built to Base Flood Elevation should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kenedy County, Texas has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2024)
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 |
| Hurricane Hanna | Hurricane | Jul 25, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Tropical Storm Alex | Hurricane | Jun 27, 2010 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jun 19, 2024 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 22, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Aug 26, 2020 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jul 25, 2020 | 11.87K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Jul 25, 2020 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 21, 2020 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Oct 10, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Oct 8, 2020 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 25, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 30, 2010 | 0.00K |
Storm Surge/Tide — Jun 19, 2024
The difference between unusually strong (for late June) high pressure over the southeast U.S. and broad low pressure in the southwest Gulf brought a gradual increase in wave energy and rising tides (coastal run up) on the Lower Texas coast barrier island. Departures from predicted began to spike during the afternoon of June 18th, with the combination of wave energy (from 12+ foot waves and a 1...
Tropical Storm — Aug 22, 2023
Tropical Storm Harold made landfall along the unpopulated Padre Island National Seashore on the northern Kenedy coastline just before 10:00AM CDT Tuesday, August 22nd carrying sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts over 60 mph in a small portion of the developing eye. Harold spun quickly across northern Kenedy, Brooks, and Jim Hogg Counties during the day on August 22nd before weakening to a Trop...
Storm Surge/Tide — Aug 26, 2020
As Hurricane Laura traversed northward across the Gulf of Mexico in late August, outgoing swell propagated into the lower Texas coastal waters on August 27th. This swell was powerful enough to push water into the dunes across South Padre Island around high tide, which occurred at 2:36 AM CDT. The highest level that was reported was 1.87 feet above Mean Higher-High Water (MHHW; or the level abov...
Storm Surge/Tide — Jul 25, 2020
Hurricane Hanna, the 2020 Atlantic season's first Hurricane, made landfall along the unpopulated Padre Island National Seashore on the mid-Kenedy County coastline as a Category 1 storm at around 5 PM Central Time Saturday, July 25th, carrying sustained 90 mph winds with gusts over 100 mph in a small portion of the inner eye wall. The hurricane spun slowly but steadily into southern Kenedy and n...
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Jul 25, 2020
Hurricane Hanna, the 2020 Atlantic season's first Hurricane, made landfall along the unpopulated Padre Island National Seashore on the mid-Kenedy County coastline as a Category 1 storm at around 5 PM Central Time Saturday, July 25th, carrying sustained 90 mph winds with gusts over 100 mph in a small portion of the inner eye wall. The hurricane spun slowly but steadily into southern Kenedy and n...
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 Kenedy 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 Kenedy 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.