Natural hazards · Tyler

Tyler, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Tyler comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 151 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 Tyler?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Tyler to be higher than in 7% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding52%Cold waves16%Heat waves14%Everything else18%

By hazard

What Tyler faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about 19 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Tyler flood?

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

151paid claims since 1979

$3.1Mpaid to owners

20homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 11 claims, $482K
Tropical Storm Claudette: 6 claims, $24K
Hurricane Allen: 1 claim, $30K

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

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

Insurance rates: Smith County.

Disasters that hit Tyler

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into TylerDeclared for Smith County only

2024

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

5,651 households applied for aid $9.0M aid approved $616K to the City of Tyler for repairs

2021

Severe Winter Storms

2,630 households applied for aid $1.7M aid approved $125K to the City of Tyler for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

36 households applied for aid $64K aid approved

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding

44 households applied for aid $12K aid approved $1.4M to the City of Tyler for repairs

2011

Wildfires

6 households applied for aid $47K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Ike

103 households applied for aid $27K aid approved

2007

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

388 households applied for aid $279K aid approved $126K to the City of Tyler for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

1 household applied for aid $140K to the City of Tyler for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$124K to the City of Tyler for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$300K to the City of Tyler for repairs

Smith County has had 25 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. Tyler covers 26 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Tyler’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Tyler. 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 Tyler total about $18.8M 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.