Floods Like In Texas Are Becoming More Common: These Are the Counties With the Greatest Riverine Flood Risk

By Evan Comen • July 11, 2025

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Over the past week, several co-occurring extreme rainfall events have caused unprecedented flooding in large stretches of the country. On Tuesday, thunderstorms moved through the New Mexico Central Highlands, triggering rapid runoff and flash flooding that claimed three lives. Tropical storm Chantal brought substantial flooding to the East Coast, while the death toll from the devastating flooding of the Guadalupe River in Central Texas continues to rise.

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Nationwide, there are flood watches from the National Weather Service in 204 counties, representing more than 34 million Americans. With 27.3% of the United States in moderate drought, much of the country is at particularly high risk of a flood right now, with dry, hardened soil reducing the ability of floodplains to absorb water and mitigate flash flooding. Many of the counties with the highest risk of flooding are in dry, low-lying counties in Texas and Louisiana. A closer look at data from FEMA reveals the counties with the greatest risk of riverine flooding.

To determine the counties with the greatest risk of riverine flooding, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on hazard risk from FEMA. Counties were ranked based on the average annual loss rate of buildings, agriculture, and population due to riverine flooding from 1996 to 2019. Data is based on FEMA National Risk Index estimates for March 2023. Riverine flooding is when streams and rivers exceed the capacity of their natural or constructed channels to accommodate water flow and water overflows the banks, spilling into adjacent low-lying, dry land. Supplemental data on cumulative forecast rainfall for July 10 to 12 is from NOAA, while data on aggregate home value is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

25. Llano County, TX (Colorado River)

Photo by Samuel Bauman on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.13/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 65 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.16 inches
Aggregate home value: $4.0 billion
County seat: Llano

24. Caldwell County, TX (San Marcos River)

Photo by Reagan Ross on Pexels

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.20/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 70 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.03 inches
Aggregate home value: $3.6 billion
County seat: Lockhart

23. Willacy County, TX (Arroyo Colorado)

Photo by 13053697 on Pixabay

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.23/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 29 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.00 inches
Aggregate home value: $403.8 million
County seat: Raymondville

22. Gonzales County, TX (Guadalupe River)

Photo by Laine Cooper on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.26/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 81 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.12 inches
Aggregate home value: $1.1 billion
County seat: Gonzales

21. Modoc County, CA (Pit River)

Photo by Soly Moses on Pexels

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.29/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 13 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.00 inches
Aggregate home value: $658.3 million
County seat: Alturas

20. St. Charles Parish, LA (Mississippi River)

Photo by Vasudha Nagaraju on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.32/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 31 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.34 inches
Aggregate home value: $4.3 billion
County seat: Hahnville

19. Pendleton County, KY (Ohio River)

Photo by Summer Miller on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.38/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 39 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.32 inches
Aggregate home value: $813.1 million
County seat: Falmouth

18. Woodruff County, AR (White River)

Photo by Yuriy Vertikov on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.41/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 209 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.01 inches
Aggregate home value: $227.8 million
County seat: Augusta

17. St. Tammany Parish, LA (Pearl River)

Photo by Jonathon Young on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.44/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 52 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.28 inches
Aggregate home value: $25.7 billion
County seat: Covington

16. McDowell County, WV (Guyandotte River)

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.47/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 35 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.74 inches
Aggregate home value: $339.2 million
County seat: Welch

15. East Baton Rouge Parish, LA (Mississippi River)

Photo by Vladimir Oprisko on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.50/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 31 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.38 inches
Aggregate home value: $33.3 billion
County seat: Baton Rouge

14. Lea County, NM (McKenzie Draw)

Photo by Vitaliy Dragun on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.54/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 66 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.00 inches
Aggregate home value: $4.1 billion
County seat: Lovington

13. Vermilion Parish, LA (Mermentau River)

Photo by Jennifer Gaete on Pexels

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.57/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 27 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.49 inches
Aggregate home value: $3.0 billion
County seat: Abbeville

12. Iberia Parish, LA (Bayou Teche)

Photo by Saiteja Varma on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.60/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 34 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.38 inches
Aggregate home value: $3.5 billion
County seat: New Iberia

11. Wayne County, MO (Saint Francis River)

Photo by Sid Suratia on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.66/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 93 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.03 inches
Aggregate home value: $503.9 million
County seat: Greenville

10. Kimble County, TX (Llano River)

Photo by Mitchell Hamilton on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.72/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 30 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.16 inches
Aggregate home value: $424.7 million
County seat: Junction

9. St. Martin Parish, LA (Bayou Teche)

Photo by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.75/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 28 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.46 inches
Aggregate home value: $2.9 billion
County seat: St. Martinville

8. Lafayette Parish, LA (Bayou Teche)

Photo by Nicole Herrero on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.78/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 44 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.55 inches
Aggregate home value: $17.9 billion
County seat: Lafayette

7. Richland County, ND (Sheyenne River)

Photo by Sunil GC on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.81/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 57 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.58 inches
Aggregate home value: $1.0 billion
County seat: Wahpeton

6. Ascension Parish, LA (Mississippi River)

Photo by Justin Wilkens on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.85/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 16 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.42 inches
Aggregate home value: $11.1 billion
County seat: Donaldsonville

5. Brazoria County, TX (Brazos River)

Photo by Micah Tindell on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.88/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 51 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.36 inches
Aggregate home value: $28.8 billion
County seat: Angleton

4. DeWitt County, TX (Guadalupe River)

Photo by Terry Agar on Pexels

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.91/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 97 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.32 inches
Aggregate home value: $1.1 billion
County seat: Cuero

3. Livingston Parish, LA (Amite River)

Photo by Kool C on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.94/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 13 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.47 inches
Aggregate home value: $9.8 billion
County seat: Livingston

2. Galveston County, TX (Galveston Bay)

Photo by Spencer Walker on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 99.97/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 76 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.33 inches
Aggregate home value: $31.1 billion
County seat: Galveston

1. Orange County, TX (Sabine River)

Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash

National percentile of annual loss rate due to riverine flooding: 100.00/100
Number of riverine flooding events, 1996-2019: 64 events
Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 10-12: 0.77 inches
Aggregate home value: $4.6 billion
County seat: Orange

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