Brownsville, TX Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Brownsville is the most hurricane-exposed metro in Texas, sitting on the Rio Grande floodplain with roughly 25% of the metro area in AE zones. Proximity to South Padre Island and frequent tropical storm landfalls compound the flood risk.
Cameron County has recorded 7,061 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $184.6M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 6
NFIP Policies
24,239
Cameron County
Avg. Premium
$620/yr
Cameron County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Cameron County
Properties in Cameron County have filed 7,061 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $184.6M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $26K.
Highest-Claim Years
2008
1,599 claims - $22.7M
2025
1,159 claims - $88.8M
1980
1,009 claims - $8.3M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Cameron County
Only roughly 1 in 7 households in Cameron County carries NFIP flood insurance (15% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
15%
roughly 1 in 7 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 3
7,061 claims over 45+ years across 24,239 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$26,138
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Cameron County has averaged 1 claim for every 3 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Brownsville.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Cameron County
Cameron County has 600 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 61 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
600
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
61
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
0
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 591 of 600 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Cameron County
Cameron County has been included in 21 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 13 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Cameron County, including Brownsville.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Cameron County
NOAA has recorded 135 flood events in Cameron County since 1996, causing $323.7M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Cameron County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 543 properties in Cameron County, investing $14.1M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: Brownsville
The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Brownsville. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Lower Rio Grande Levee System
AccreditedProtects against: Rio Grande - Sponsor: International Boundary and Water Commission - 274.13 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Cameron County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $32.4M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $547K
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $84.1M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Brownsville
Brownsville faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Brownsville are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $32.4M. Properties in Brownsville's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Brownsville means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flood maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Brownsville address.
Brownsville, TX Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Brownsville, TX?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Brownsville are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Brownsville?
If your Brownsville property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Brownsville?
Enter your Brownsville address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Brownsville?
Brownsville is primarily affected by both coastal storm surge and inland flooding. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Brownsville address.
Has Brownsville experienced major flooding events?
Cameron County, where Brownsville is located, has been part of 21 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in 2025. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Brownsville?
Cameron County has recorded 7,061 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $184.6M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2008, with 1,599 claims and $22.7M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Brownsville.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Brownsville?
Cameron County had 24,239 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $620. The most policies are in Zone X (15,402 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Brownsville properties have flooded repeatedly?
Cameron County has 600 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 61 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Brownsville protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Brownsville (Lower Rio Grande Levee System). All of these are FEMA-accredited, meaning the area they protect is generally mapped as Zone X rather than a high-risk zone. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Brownsville property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Brownsville?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Brownsville's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Texas Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Brownsville, TX Address
Enter a Brownsville, TX address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.