Enter any address in Shelby County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Shelby County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA data recorded 49 flash flood events, along with 6 general flood events and 2 tropical storms. Recent flash flood events occurred in January 2024 and June 2024, driven by atmospheric conditions that supported heavy rainfall and thunderstorm development.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced flooding, with an average payout of $8,532 and an average water depth of 0.0 feet. Homeowners and real estate agents should pay close attention to flood risk, particularly those in areas prone to flash flooding or located in Zone A.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
24 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Shelby County, Texas has recorded 57 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 49 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 27 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Beryl | Hurricane | Jul 5, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Tropical Storms Marco And Laura | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 7, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2015 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 30, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 6, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2025
Significant banding of heavy showers and thunderstorms with cell-training occurred on the morning of August 29th across East Texas and North Louisiana, posing the threat of flash flooding. A gradual increase in warm air advection and isentropic ascent was noted on the north side of a quasi-stationary frontal boundary and within a very moist and moderately unstable air mass. MUCAPE values ranged...
Flash Flood — Jul 26, 2024
A broad complex of showers and thunderstorms with associated heavy rainfall developed across areas of Deep East Texas and West Central Louisiana by mid to late morning on July 26th. This occurred within an elongated axis of upper-level energy observed along much of the middle and upper Texas coast and up across interior areas of East Texas around the eastern flank of a broader mid-level trough ...
Flash Flood — Jan 23, 2024
A deep upper-level trough axis became entrenched across the western U.S. early on January 23rd into the 24th, enhancing a deep southwesterly flow pattern across the Middle Red River Valley. Multiple disturbances aloft ejected northeast within the southwesterly flow and combined with a stalled surface frontal boundary to provide a nearly ideal environment for heavy rainfall across the Ark-La-Tex...
Flash Flood — Apr 9, 2024
A frontal boundary became stationary across the heart of the Ark-La-Tex region in vicinity of the Interstate 30 corridor on April 8th before slowly advancing southeast on April 9th. Concurrently, very moist southwest flow aloft resulting from a nearly cut-off low across the Desert Southwest provided for precipitable water values near 2 inches. Thunderstorms developed and gradually spread northw...
Flash Flood — Jun 2, 2024
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms with a well-established cold pool advanced into the Ark-La-Tex from Southern Oklahoma and North Central Texas during the late afternoon and evening on June 2nd. Significant destabilization occurred ahead of this linear mesoscale convective system (MCS) with MLCAPE values of 3000 to 3500 J/kg and surface dew points in the mid 70s. Effective shear was quit...
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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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.