Natural hazards · DeSoto

DeSoto, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in DeSoto comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 108 claims here since 1979. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is DeSoto?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in DeSoto to be higher than in 62% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding39%Heat waves27%Hail12%Tornadoes12%Cold waves9%Everything else2%

By hazard

What DeSoto faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

39% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Heat waves

27% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places

Recorded about 19 times a year in the area

Hail

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Cold waves

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does DeSoto flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DeSoto, from FEMA’s records.

108paid claims since 1979

$3.8Mpaid to owners

12homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Early summer storms: 1 claim, $17K
Dallas Flash Floods: 1 claim, $621
Spring severe storms: 1 claim, $5K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. DeSoto isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Dallas County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

15storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit DeSoto

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in DeSoto itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of DeSoto.

Brought FEMA money into DeSotoDeclared for Dallas County only

2024

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

602 households applied for aid $437K aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

1,730 households applied for aid $783K aid approved $57K to the City of DeSoto for repairs

2017

Hurricane Harvey

1 household applied for aid

2015

Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$928K to the City of DeSoto for repairs

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding

31 households applied for aid $29K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Rita

1 household applied for aid

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$729K to the City of DeSoto for repairs

Dallas County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around DeSoto

DeSoto and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

DeSotomostly inland floodingHigh

Duncanvillemostly inland floodingModerate

Lancastermostly heat wavesModerate

Dallasmostly inland floodingModerate

Glenn Heightsmostly heat wavesModerate

Cedar Hillmostly heat wavesModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. DeSoto covers 13 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to DeSoto’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of DeSoto. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across DeSoto total about $24.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.