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Natural hazard risk in Brazoria County, Texas

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 93.6 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$161.5 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1973
32[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$632.0 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
98[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index gives Brazoria County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are tornado, hurricane and lightning[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Brazoria County at $161.5 million a year[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's sorted values show the largest parts come from inland flooding ($78.2 million a year), hurricane ($43.6 million a year) and tornado ($20.9 million a year)[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low (score 23.9)[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Very High (score 81.9)[10]. FEMA says the index is not meant to predict damage in the next year[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
TornadoRelatively High$20.9 million[11]
HurricaneRelatively High$43.6 million[12]
LightningRelatively High$2.3 million[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$78.2 million[14]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$5.0 million[15]
WildfireRelatively Low$887,000[16]
Ice StormRelatively High$691,000[17]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.4 million[18]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$5.1 million[19]
Coastal FloodingRelatively Moderate$2.0 million[20]
HailRelatively Low$432,000[21]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$822,000[22]
EarthquakeVery Low$254,000[23]
LandslideVery Low$988[24]
Winter WeatherVery Low$23,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, volcanic activity[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low23.9[9]
Community resilienceVery High81.9[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High (score 94.4) and coastal flooding Relatively Moderate (score 76.4) compared with other US counties[14][20]. OpenFEMA lists 27,418 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 121,737 residential structures, a rate of 22.5%[27]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 42.8% of homes are insured[27]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data from 1978 to 2026 shows 21,436 claims filed for losses in the county, and NFIP paid $632.0 million in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[14] Relatively High, $78.2 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[20] Relatively Moderate, $2.0 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 27,418 of 121,737 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 26,528, of which 11,347 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 21,436 filed, $632.0 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 32 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Brazoria County since 1973, including 13 for hurricanes and 7 for floods[2]. The most recent is DR-4798-TX, Hurricane Beryl, declared 2024-07-09[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 98 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated F3[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Brazoria County, since 1973
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 13
Flood[2] 7
Severe Storm[2] 6
Coastal Storm[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Fire[2] 2
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4798-TX[29] Hurricane Beryl 2024-07-09
DR-4586-TX[29] Severe Winter Storms 2021-02-19
EM-3554-TX[29] Severe Winter Storm 2021-02-14
EM-3540-TX[29] Tropical Storms Marco And Laura 2020-08-24
EM-3530-TX[29] Hurricane Hanna 2020-07-26

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Brazoria County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High and coastal flooding Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[14][20]. For the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].
Does Brazoria County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 98 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High (score 97.0) compared with other US counties[11].
Is Brazoria County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk Relatively High (score 96.9) compared with other US counties[12]. OpenFEMA lists 13 hurricane declarations that include the county since 1973[2].
Is Brazoria County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low (score 45.9) compared with other US counties[23].
How many disasters have been declared in Brazoria County?
OpenFEMA lists 32 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1973[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Brazoria County is $161.5 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 94.5). Of this, buildings account for $115.5 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 32 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Brazoria County since 1973 (23 major disaster, 9 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 13, flood 7, severe storm 6, coastal storm 2, severe ice storm 2, fire 2. Biological (such as... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 21,436 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Brazoria County, 17,383 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $632.0 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 98 recorded tornadoes touched Brazoria County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1976-03-08). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-12-28. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Brazoria County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 93.6 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Brazoria County are tornado (97.0, Relatively High), hurricane (96.9, Relatively High), lightning (95.5, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Brazoria County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($78.2 million a year), hurricane ($43.6 million a year), tornado ($20.9 million a year), out of $161.5 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Brazoria County is Relatively Low (score 23.9). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Brazoria County is Very High (score 81.9). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.9 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.11 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 96.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $43.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.22 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years... FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 70.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $78.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.86 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 93.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 14.91 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 86.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $887,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0041 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 85.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $691,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.69 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 28.52 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 83.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.44 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 3.7412 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 60.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $432,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.59 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 59.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $822,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 45.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $254,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 43.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $988 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Brazoria County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $23,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.89 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Brazoria County: avalanche, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 27,418 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Brazoria County, out of 121,737 residential structures, a penetration rate of 22.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 26,528 residential structures and 11,347... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  29. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.