Katy, Texas Flood Zones
Katy sits in the Buffalo Bayou watershed west of Houston, where controlled releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey flooded over 8,000 homes. The reservoir dam problem remains Houston's most significant unresolved flood risk.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Harris 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
Very HighEst. annual loss: $1.1B
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $2.5M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $457.9M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Harris County
Harris County has been included in 25 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 17 earlier declarations since 1989.
These declarations affected communities across Harris County, including Katy.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Harris County
Properties in Harris County have filed 170,766 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $8.7B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $51K.
Highest-Claim Years
2017
49,785 claims - $5.4B
2001
22,946 claims - $869.8M
2008
13,716 claims - $420.1M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
91,679
Zone AE
56,756
Zone A
16,865
Zone AO
892
Zone AOB
488
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Katy
Properties in Katy, TX are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Katy
Katy faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Katy are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $1.1B.
Riverine flood risk in Katy is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. 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.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Katy address.
Check Your Katy Address
Enter any Katy, TX address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupKaty, TX Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Katy, TX?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Katy 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 Katy?
If your Katy 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 Katy?
Enter your Katy 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.
How high is flood risk in Katy?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Harris County (where Katy is located) has a "Very High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $1.1B. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has Katy experienced major flooding events?
Harris County, where Katy is located, has been part of 25 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 Katy?
Harris County has recorded 170,766 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $8.7B in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2017, with 49,785 claims and $5.4B in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Katy.
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