Natural hazards · Waller

Waller, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waller comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 39 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 Waller?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waller to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding38%Tornadoes29%Hurricanes11%Cold waves9%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Waller faces

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

Inland flooding

38% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 29% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

29% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

11% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Cold waves

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Waller flood?

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

39paid claims since 1979

$786Kpaid to owners

9homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Spring severe storms: 10 claims, $301K
Early summer severe storms: 5 claims, $33K
Tropical Storm Paul: 3 claims, $29K

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Waller County.

Disasters that hit Waller

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WallerDeclared for Waller County only

2024

Hurricane Beryl

500 households applied for aid $329K aid approved $244K to the City of Waller for repairs

2024

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

594 households applied for aid $829K aid approved $340K to the City of Waller for repairs

2021

Severe Winter Storms

241 households applied for aid $184K aid approved

2017

Hurricane Harvey

341 households applied for aid $269K aid approved

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

311 households applied for aid $1.1M aid approved $15K to the City of Waller for repairs

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2011

Wildfires

91 households applied for aid $247K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Ike

246 households applied for aid $264K aid approved $39K to the City of Waller for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

14 households applied for aid $10K aid approved $28K to the City of Waller for repairs

1998

Tx-Flooding 10/18/98

$7K to the City of Waller for repairs

Waller County has had 23 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. Waller covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waller’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Waller. 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 Waller total about $1.4M 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.