Natural hazards · Pasadena

Pasadena, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Pasadena comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5,531 claims here since 1978. 13 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Pasadena?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Pasadena to be higher than in 71% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding41%Hurricanes24%Tornadoes22%Cold waves7%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Pasadena faces

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

24% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

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

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce 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 Pasadena flood?

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

5,531paid claims since 1978

$189Mpaid to owners

520homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Allison: 1,322 claims, $43.1M
Hurricane Harvey: 1,278 claims, $92.7M
Tropical Storm Claudette: 312 claims, $3.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 9 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (138) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Pasadena is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Harris County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

361flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Pasadena

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PasadenaDeclared for Harris County only

2024

Hurricane Beryl

20,271 households applied for aid $17.8M aid approved $4.2M to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2024

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

1,459 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

2,379 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved $83K to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2019

Tropical Storm Imelda

71 households applied for aid $23K aid approved

2017

Hurricane Harvey

14,060 households applied for aid $25.6M aid approved $5.0M to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

47 households applied for aid $28K aid approved

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding

138 households applied for aid $105K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Ike

14,716 households applied for aid $6.7M aid approved $15.8M to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2007

Tropical Storm Erin

103 households applied for aid $184K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Rita

6,389 households applied for aid $1.7M aid approved $362K to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$22K to the City of Pasadena for repairs

2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

13 households applied for aid $34K aid approved

2001

Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001

$403K to the City of Pasadena for repairs

Harris County has had 34 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and hurricanes.

Around Pasadena

Pasadena and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Houstonmostly inland floodingVery high

La Portemostly inland floodingHigh

South Houstonmostly inland floodingHigh

Taylor Lake Villagemostly inland floodingHigh

Deer Parkmostly inland floodingHigh

Pasadenamostly inland floodingHigh

El Lagomostly inland floodingHigh

Nassau Baymostly inland floodingHigh

Seabrookmostly inland floodingHigh

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. Pasadena covers 32 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Pasadena’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Pasadena. 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 Pasadena total about $54.8M 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.