Enter any address in Waller County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Waller County, with 24 occurrences in the last 30 years. Tropical Storms have also impacted the area, with 5 events recorded in the same period. Recent events include flash flooding on October 1, 2021, and Tropical Storm Nicholas which brought widespread rainfall and power outages on September 13, 2021.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $45,762 and an average water depth of 3.1 feet. Properties in Zone X, despite being considered moderate flood risk, have seen higher average payouts of $60,745 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED with an average water depth of 5.5 feet, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Waller County, Texas has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods. The county has received 29 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1989–2024)
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 |
| Hurricane Harvey | Hurricane | Aug 23, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | May 22, 2016 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Apr 17, 2016 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 13, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 25, 2017 | 350.00M |
| Flash Flood | Apr 18, 2016 | 6.70M (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 28, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2015 | 4.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2012 | 300.00K |
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...
Flash Flood — Oct 1, 2021
A cluster of showers and thunderstorms developed over SE TX during the morning of October 1, producing periods of heavy rain across the area. Heavy downpours resulted in several instances of street flooding making roads impassable.
Flash Flood — May 9, 2019
Shortwave disturbances traveling across a slow-moving frontal boundary within a moist air mass allowed for the development of high rainfall producing storms.
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2017
Harvey made landfall as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas during the evening of August 25th. The storm then weakened to a tropical storm and slowed, looping back and tracking over SE Texas then back over the Gulf of Mexico making a second landfall along the Louisiana coast during the early morning hours of August 30th. Over that 5 day period over Southeast Texas TS Harvey produced ca...
Tropical Storm — Aug 25, 2017
Harvey made landfall as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas during the evening of August 25th. The storm then weakened to a tropical storm and slowed, looping back and tracking over SE Texas then back over the Gulf of Mexico making a second landfall along the Louisiana coast during the early morning hours of August 30th. Over that 5 day period over Southeast Texas TS Harvey produced ca...
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 Waller 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 Waller 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.