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Natural hazards · Harlingen

Harlingen, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Harlingen comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,539 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Harlingen?

72
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Harlingen to be higher than in 72% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes54%Inland flooding19%Cold waves18%Everything else9%
By hazard

What Harlingen faces

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

Hurricanes

54% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Inland flooding

19% of expected damage
Well below average · higher than 21% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Harlingen flood?

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

1,539paid claims since 1979
$59.7Mpaid to owners
211homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Dolly: 237 claims, $4.4M
  • Hurricane Hanna: 34 claims, $409K
  • Hurricane Allen: 14 claims, $191K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 4 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (25) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Harlingen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cameron County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Harlingen

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HarlingenDeclared for Cameron County only
2025

Severe Storms and Flooding

3,406 households applied for aid $19.3M aid approved
2024

Hurricane Beryl

$18K to the City of Harlingen for repairs
2021

Severe Winter Storms

354 households applied for aid $127K aid approved $11K to the City of Harlingen for repairs
2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,966 households applied for aid $5.5M aid approved
2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

463 households applied for aid $337K aid approved
2015

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

65 households applied for aid $16K aid approved
2010

Hurricane Alex

114 households applied for aid $145K aid approved $84K to the City of Harlingen for repairs
2008

Hurricane Dolly

5,931 households applied for aid $5.3M aid approved $2.5M to the City of Harlingen for repairs
2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

76 households applied for aid $162K aid approved
1999

Hurricane Bret

$20K to the City of Harlingen for repairs
Cameron County has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.
Around Harlingen

Harlingen and the towns around it

San Benito: High, mostly hurricanesJuarez: High, mostly hurricanesLas Palmas II: High, mostly hurricanesCombes: High, mostly hurricanesPalm Valley: High, mostly hurricanesPrimera: High, mostly hurricanesLasana: High, mostly hurricanesEl Camino Angosto: High, mostly hurricanesBrownsville: High, mostly hurricanesLa Paloma: High, mostly hurricanesHarlingen: High, mostly hurricanes HarlingenSan BenitoJuarezLas Palmas IICombesPalm ValleyPrimeraLasana
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Harlingenmostly hurricanesHigh
San Benitomostly hurricanesHigh
Las Palmas IImostly hurricanesHigh
Palm Valleymostly hurricanesHigh
Primeramostly hurricanesHigh
Lasanamostly hurricanesHigh
Combesmostly hurricanesHigh
Juarezmostly hurricanesHigh
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. Harlingen covers 18 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Harlingen’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Harlingen. 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 Harlingen total about $24.5M 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.

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