Flooding in Houston, Texas: the claims record and what to do
Houston drains through a network of bayous and sits in the path of Gulf storms. Its flood insurance claims run into the tens of thousands, from hurricanes and from spring downpours alike.
FEMA counts 87,007 National Flood Insurance Program claims in the City of Houston. Hurricane Harvey alone accounts for 26,292 of them, and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 for another 12,882. Of the claims with a recorded flood zone, 52.7 per cent were for buildings outside the high-risk zone. FEMA lists 11,103 Houston properties that have flooded more than once. This page sets out how the city floods, where the claims are concentrated, and what owners and renters can do.
The short version
- FEMA records 87,007 flood insurance claims in the City of Houston, 26,292 of them from Hurricane Harvey and 12,882 from Tropical Storm Allison.
- Of claims with a recorded flood zone, 52.7 per cent were for buildings outside the high-risk zone.
- Spring storms matter too: the Tax Day flood of 18 April 2016 produced 2,983 claims, and April and May together account for 18.8 per cent of the record.
- Claims cluster in ZIP codes such as 77096, 77088, 77089 and 77034, and 11,103 Houston properties have flooded more than once.
- Twelve inches of rushing water can carry away most cars; check bayou levels and stay off flooded roads.
What the flood insurance record shows
FEMA's OpenFEMA claims data, current to 8 September 2026, show 87,007 National Flood Insurance Program claims filed under the City of Houston community. Of those, 68,753 are for losses since 2000 and 41,251, 47.4 per cent of the whole record, since 2015. The heaviest year by far was 2017, with 26,795 claims, followed by 2001 with 12,133, 2008 with 6,148 and 2015 with 5,780. More recently 2019 produced 2,965 and 2024 produced 1,024. By the named event recorded on each claim, Hurricane Harvey accounts for 26,292, Tropical Storm Allison 12,882, Hurricane Ike 5,973, Tropical Storm Imelda 2,495, Hurricane Alicia 1,502 and Hurricane Beryl 788. FEMA's multiple-loss records, as of 21 October 2026, list 11,103 Houston properties that have flooded more than once, 2,190 of them classed as severe repetitive loss.
Hurricane Harvey, August 2017
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office records storm totals between 25 and 31 August 2017 of 54.00 inches near Bunker Hill Village, 52.30 inches near Webster, 37.01 inches near Hobby Airport and 31.26 inches near Bush Intercontinental. It describes catastrophic flooding on nearly every one of Harris County's 22 watersheds, record crests at 10 of the 19 official forecast points on the county's bayous, record pool levels in the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, and stretches of Interstate 45, US 59, Beltway 8, Interstate 10 and State Highway 6 under water. The Harris County Flood Control District estimated that nearly 136,000 structures flooded. In FEMA's claims data the two worst days in the city's record are both Harvey: 10,617 claims dated 27 August 2017 and 7,750 dated 26 August.
Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001
Allison made landfall near Galveston on 5 June 2001, moved inland and then drifted back toward the coast. The National Weather Service's assessment of the storm records the heaviest rain over Houston on the night of 8 to 9 June, when two-thirds of Harris County received more than 10 inches, rainfall rates at times exceeded 5 inches an hour, and a gauge in the Greens Bayou area reported more than 28 inches over a single day. The storm total at the Port of Houston was 36.99 inches. Five of the six major bayou systems flooded severely, all major interstates were closed, and the weather service counts 22 deaths in Houston and more than 45,000 homes and businesses flooded. Allison is the second-largest event in Houston's FEMA claims record, with 12,882 claims.
Not only hurricanes
Some of Houston's worst flood days had no named storm at all. FEMA's data show 2,983 claims dated 18 April 2016, the Tax Day flood; 2,435 on 25 May 2015 and 2,264 on 26 May, over the Memorial Day weekend; and 1,961 on 28 April 2009. By month, June to September account for 59,716 claims, 68.6 per cent, but April and May add 16,386, or 18.8 per cent. In practice that means Houston households need to be ready for heavy rain from spring onwards, not only once hurricane season begins.
Where in the city the claims are
The claims are spread across the city, but some ZIP codes stand out. By the ZIP code reported on each claim, 77096 has the most, with 6,351, followed by 77088 with 4,213, 77089 with 3,778, 77034 with 3,436, 77079 with 3,290, 77025 with 2,967 and 77074 with 2,750. The multiple-loss list points the same way: 964 of the properties that have flooded more than once are in 77096, 759 in 77088 and 529 in 77074. A ZIP code is only a rough guide. For any single building, only the FEMA Flood Map Service Center can say which zone applies.
Outside the flood zone is not the same as safe
FEMA records the rated flood zone for 85,236 of the Houston claims. Of those, 44,948, or 52.7 per cent, were for buildings in zones B, C or X, the moderate and minimal risk zones where a lender does not require flood insurance. Harvey showed the same pattern: 11,670 of its 26,116 claims with a recorded zone, 44.7 per cent, were outside the high-risk zone. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood, and FEMA states that a new flood policy normally takes 30 days to begin, so buying one when a storm is in the Gulf is too late for that storm.
Roads, bayous and when to stay put
The National Weather Service warns that six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, 12 inches can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks. It also notes that over half of flood drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into flood water. In Allison and Harvey alike the weather service lists major Houston highways under water, so when heavy rain is forecast the safest choice is often not to drive. The Harris County Flood Control District runs the Harris County Flood Warning System, which shows rain gauge totals and bayou levels across the county in real time. Check it before you set out, and turn around at any flooded road.
If water is already inside
Keep out of standing water until the power to that part of the building is off, and treat water that has come in from the street, a bayou or up through a drain as contaminated. Photograph everything before it is moved, then start getting the water out and the building dry. In Houston's heat and humidity, wet drywall, carpet pad and cabinets left closed up can develop mold, so the drying matters as much as the extraction. If the water came from outside, it is a flood loss and only a flood policy covers it; if it came from a burst pipe, a water heater or a roof leak during a storm, your homeowners policy decides. Whether a particular loss is paid is decided by your insurer and your policy wording.
Common questions
How often does Houston flood?
Often. FEMA counts 87,007 flood insurance claims in the city, 41,251 of them for losses since 2015, from hurricanes such as Harvey and Beryl and from heavy rain events such as the Tax Day flood of April 2016 and the Memorial Day flood of May 2015.
Do I need flood insurance in Houston if I am not in a flood zone?
It is worth considering. Of the Houston claims with a recorded flood zone, 52.7 per cent were for buildings in the moderate and minimal risk zones B, C and X, where flood insurance is not required. A new policy normally takes 30 days to begin.
What was the worst flood in Houston?
By claims, Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, with 26,292 claims in the city and more than 10,000 on 27 August alone. The National Weather Service recorded storm totals above 50 inches at several Harris County gauges, and the Harris County Flood Control District estimated nearly 136,000 structures flooded.
Which parts of Houston have the most flood claims?
By reported ZIP code, 77096 leads with 6,351 claims, followed by 77088 with 4,213, 77089 with 3,778 and 77034 with 3,436. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Find out who to call
Answer a few questions about what happened. You get the safety steps and the right trade whether or not you leave contact details.
Two referral lines cover this area. We have not vetted an individual company, and we will not route you to one whose coverage and registration we have not checked.
A pipe, water heater, sump pump or drain
Something inside the building failed and the water needs stopping.
Storm water, flooding or a soaked building
Water came in from outside, or the structure is wet and needs drying.
Not sure which you have? Answer a few questions and we will tell you. These are referral lines: they connect you to a company in the network, not to one this site operates or has inspected.
We are a free matching service, not a restoration contractor. Calls and requests are connected to independent providers.