FEMA rates relative hurricane risk for Harris County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.182 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Harris County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.182 per year for hurricane. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Harris County.
Hurricane
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
100.0/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Harris County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Houston, FEMA rates hurricane risk for Harris County as very high, with a relative score of 100.0/100. Hurricane shares the highest relative score with riverine flooding and tornado. Lightning follows at 100.0/100.
Using FEMA data for Harris County, Houston is tied #1 among 53 covered Texas entries for hurricane risk; 4 entries share that score. Pearland is about 16 straight-line miles from the Houston map point; its FEMA figures cover Brazoria County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Houston? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Houston. All FEMA figures on this page cover Harris County.
The FEMA figures cover Harris County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative hurricane risk for Harris County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 0.182 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 53 Texas cities covered by this directory, Houston is Tied #1 for relative hurricane risk based on FEMA's score for Harris County. 4 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Houston can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Harris County, the highest relative ratings are Hurricane (Very High), Riverine Flooding (Very High), and Tornado (Very High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Harris County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Harris County an overall relative risk rating of very high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Hurricane rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearland, TX | 16 mi | Relatively High | 98.5 |
| Pasadena, TX | 17 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Atascocita, TX | 18 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Sugar Land, TX | 20 mi | Very High | 99.2 |
| Baytown, TX | 25 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.