The Woodlands, Texas Flood Zones
The Woodlands is an affluent Houston suburb that was catastrophically flooded during Hurricane Harvey when the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek overwhelmed the area. Lake Houston drainage complications compound the flood risk for this large master-planned community.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Montgomery 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: $94.4M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $17.9M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Montgomery County
Montgomery County has been included in 19 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 11 earlier declarations since 1973.
These declarations affected communities across Montgomery County, including The Woodlands.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Montgomery County
Properties in Montgomery County have filed 13,008 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $631.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $49K.
Highest-Claim Years
2017
2,445 claims - $248.4M
2016
1,660 claims - $91.3M
2019
1,297 claims - $90.1M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
6,157
Zone AE
3,348
Zone A
1,842
Zone V
38
Zone VE
3
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in The Woodlands
Properties in The Woodlands, TX are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in The Woodlands
The Woodlands faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in The Woodlands are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $94.4M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in The Woodlands depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. 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 zone boundaries in The Woodlands can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any The Woodlands address.
Check Your The Woodlands Address
Enter any The Woodlands, TX address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupThe Woodlands, TX Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in The Woodlands, TX?
The most common FEMA flood zones in The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands?
If your The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands?
Enter your The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Montgomery County (where The Woodlands is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $94.4M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has The Woodlands experienced major flooding events?
Montgomery County, where The Woodlands is located, has been part of 19 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 The Woodlands?
Montgomery County has recorded 13,008 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $631.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2017, with 2,445 claims and $248.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including The Woodlands.
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