Friendswood, Texas Flood Zones
Friendswood in Galveston County was catastrophically flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 when Clear Creek overwhelmed residential neighborhoods throughout the city. The community holds a CRS Class 5 rating, reflecting the flood management investments made in response to repeated flooding events.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Galveston 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 HighEst. annual loss: $63.0M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $5.4M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $42.0M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Galveston County
Galveston County has been included in 21 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 13 earlier declarations since 1979.
These declarations affected communities across Galveston County, including Friendswood.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Galveston County
Properties in Galveston County have filed 60,611 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.4B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $40K.
Highest-Claim Years
2008
22,606 claims - $1.3B
2017
8,853 claims - $834.8M
1983
7,483 claims - $46.7M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
21,183
Zone X
18,497
Zone AE
13,567
Zone V
4,819
Zone VE
2,384
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Friendswood
Properties in Friendswood, TX are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Friendswood
Friendswood 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 Friendswood are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $63.0M.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Friendswood 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 Friendswood address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Friendswood
Friendswood participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Friendswood's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Friendswood Address
Enter any Friendswood, TX address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupFriendswood, TX Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Friendswood, TX?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Friendswood are Zone AE, 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 Friendswood?
If your Friendswood 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Friendswood?
Enter your Friendswood 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.
Does Friendswood offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Friendswood participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Friendswood experienced major flooding events?
Galveston County, where Friendswood is located, has been part of 21 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Friendswood?
Galveston County has recorded 60,611 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.4B in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2008, with 22,606 claims and $1.3B in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Friendswood.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026