Natural hazards · Jefferson

Jefferson, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jefferson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 25 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 Jefferson?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jefferson to be higher than in 68% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding35%Strong wind13%Tornadoes12%Drought12%Ice storms11%Hail6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Jefferson faces

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

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Strong wind

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 74 years in the area

Drought

12% of expected damage

Recorded about 24 times a year in the area

Ice storms

11% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hail

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Jefferson flood?

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

25paid claims since 1979

$418Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 2 claims, $70K
Hurricane Alicia: 1 claim, $2K
Hurricane Ike: 1 claim, $62K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Marion County.

Disasters that hit Jefferson

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into JeffersonDeclared for Marion County only

2021

Severe Winter Storms

7 households applied for aid $4K aid approved

2016

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

101 households applied for aid $561K aid approved $37K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2011

Wildfires

87 households applied for aid $905K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Ike

2 households applied for aid

2005

Hurricane Rita

9 households applied for aid

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$2K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$39K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

Marion County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and fires.

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. Jefferson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Jefferson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Jefferson. 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 Jefferson total about $2.0M 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.