Natural hazards · Laredo

Laredo, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Laredo comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 151 claims here since 1981. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Laredo?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Laredo to be higher than in 17% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding54%Cold waves18%Heat waves15%Hurricanes5%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Laredo faces

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

Inland flooding

54% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 41% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

15% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about 10 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 19 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce 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 Laredo flood?

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

151paid claims since 1981

$5.8Mpaid to owners

21homes flooded more than once

19812026

Biggest named events

Thunderstorms: 28 claims, $420K
Early summer storms: 9 claims, $387K
Tropical Storm Harold: 1 claim, $7K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Laredo is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Webb County.

Disasters that hit Laredo

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into LaredoDeclared for Webb County only

2024

Hurricane Beryl

$5K to the City of Laredo for repairs

2021

Severe Winter Storms

378 households applied for aid $127K aid approved $81K to the City of Laredo for repairs

2010

Hurricane Alex

318 households applied for aid $2.4M aid approved $648K to the City of Laredo for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

570 households applied for aid $890K aid approved $1.1M to the City of Laredo for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

$202K to the City of Laredo for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$24K to the City of Laredo for repairs

1999

Hurricane Bret

$15K to the City of Laredo for repairs

1998

Tropical Storm Charley

$339K to the City of Laredo for repairs

Webb County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

Around Laredo

Laredo and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Laredomostly inland floodingVery low

Rio Bravomostly inland floodingVery low

Laredo Ranchettesmostly inland floodingVery low

Tanquecitos South Acresmostly inland floodingVery low

Los Altosmostly inland floodingVery low

San Carlos Imostly inland floodingVery low

La Presamostly inland floodingVery low

Los Mineralesmostly inland floodingVery low

Los Corralitosmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Laredo covers 60 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Laredo’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Laredo. 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 Laredo total about $39.0M 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.