Comal County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk

• HailRelatively High$3.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
• TornadoRelatively High$10.9M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Winter weatherRelatively High$514K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.5 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$1.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 48 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 720 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$3M/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$3.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$481K/yr expected annual loss, about 86 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Low$326K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 25 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$160K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LandslideVery Low$1,386/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$25.9K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,899 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

1,500 of 62,275 (2.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

1,408

Insured in high-risk zones

651 (46%)

Flood claims since 1978

1,223

Claims paid since 1978

$60.8M

• Flash Flood144 · 6 deaths
• Hail143
• Drought93
• Thunderstorm Wind58
• Winter Storm18 · 1 death
• Winter Weather15
• Flood9
• Excessive Heat7
• Tornado7
• Cold/Wind Chill3

• Flash Flood10/17/1998

  Countywide, Comal County

  2 deaths, 800 injured, $50.1M damage

  What happened

  The Great October FloodIn advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th. Deep moisture was in place across South Central Texas as the two systems approached, being fed at the mid and upper levels by two nearly stationary hurricanes, Madeline near the tip of Baja Mexico, and Lester, anchored just off Acapulco, Mexico, and in the low levels by a strong flow from the Gulf of Mexico. A very moisture-rich environment was in place across South Central Texas as the event developed. Near 3 am CST, with the cold front still west of San Angelo, scattered showers and thunderstorms began to break out over Bexar County beneath the mid and upper level moisture plume. They quickly became widespread as a low level rain-cooled boundary formed along the south and east edge of the county. It was upon this boundary that subsequent showers and thunderstorms continued to form. By 6 am CST, rainfall of up to 4 inches had been reported in Western Bexar County, with amounts approaching 4 inches in Western Comal County. By 8 am CST that morning, heavy...

• Flood10/17/1998

  Comal

  50 injured, $201M damage

  What happened

  Flooding along the Guadalupe RiverThe Guadalupe River at New Braunfels crested at 35.1 feet, with flood stage at 7 feet. This was over three feet higher than the disastrous flood of May 12, 1972. Homes were destroyed, moved downstream, or severely damaged from just below Sattler, near the Bear Creek confluence, across the remainder of the county. Homes along the entire reach were flooded well away from the channel, in areas that never flooded before. Along River Road, numerous autos, RVs, and homes were strewn along the flood plain. Recreational camps and outfitters headquarters buildings were destroyed. Homes near Common Street in New Braunfels had slabs as low as 12.5 feet. These homes had 23 feet of torrential flow over the slabs. At the New Braunfels gauge below the Comal River confluence just above IH 35, the Guadalupe crested at 39.3 feet, again some three feet above the disastrous flood of May 12, 1972. Water seeped into the Pepperell Mills plant. A large apartment complex left bank just downstream had flow through the windows of the lowest floors. Water was within five feet of the IH 35 bridge bottom. Below IH 35, fine two story homes were destroyed,...

• Flood10/17/1998

  Comal

  50 injured, $8.1M damage

  What happened

  Flooding along the Comal RiverAt New Braunfels, the Comal River reached well above the flood stage of 15 feet, causing widespread flooding of homes in New Braunfels along Dry Comal Creek. Water rose to the roofs of some of the lowest homes.

• Flash Flood06/09/2010

  New Braunfels, Comal County

  1 death, $10M damage

  What happened

  A storm survey along the Guadalupe River from River Road down into the city of New Braunfels showed devastation along the banks of the river. The river rose some 20+ feet in less than 2 hours sweeping campers, cars, trailers, tubes, and other debris down the river toward New Braunfels and Seguin. Campsites downstream of the 3rd River Road crossing where demolished and swept clean due to the power of water. The campsites along the stretch of River Road near Camp Hueco Springs were especially hit hard as Elm creek flooded and brought tremendous water into the Guadalupe. A death occurred at this location as a man was swept downstream. Other campers were rescued down in New Braunfels after being swept miles downstream. Tubing businesses along the Guadalupe suffered major losses along with homes from Gruene down into Seguin. Thirty vehicles and 14 RVs were removed from the River in Comal County. One hundred twenty-one homes and businesses suffered damage. Damage estimate does not include other insured losses.

• Flash Flood06/22/1997

  Countywide, Comal County

  10 injured, $2.1M damage

  What happened

  The heavy rain Friday night into Saturday afternoon had left South Central Texas soils saturated. The situation worsened Saturday evening into Sunday as heavy rain associated with the upper low pressure system redeveloped over the western Texas Hill Country. Very heavy rains over the Texas Hill Country Saturday night and Sunday morning caused widespread flooding as well as flash flooding across numerous counties. The heavy rains moved into San Antonio Sunday morning and into the Austin area later in the morning. By Sunday afternoon and evening, areas of showers and thunderstorms had diminished over South Central Texas as the upper low moved into North Texas. Late Sunday evening, they again developed over the Texas Hill Country, producing additional severe flooding and flash flooding late Sunday night into Monday morning.Rainfall amounts for the three rain events, including the period from Friday through Monday, averaged between 4 and 6 inces, with over 15 inches across many locations in the Texas Hill Country. The least amount of rain fell in the Del Rio area, west of the low, while the most rain fell over parts of the Texas Hill Country. The heaviest rain amounts fell...

• Flash Flood10/31/2013

  New Braunfels, Comal County

  1 death, $100K damage

  What happened

  Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that led to flash flooding in Comal County. People were evacuated along River Road in New Braunfels, and near Spring Branch, Elm Creek was running 40 to 50 feet wide where it is normally about four feet. The 24 hour rainfall in the River Rd. area ranged from 3.81 to 6.58 inches while in the Spring Branch area there was between 10.40 and 11.75 inches. A man fell into the Guadalupe River near the horseshoe just down from Canyon Dam. The man was trying to retrieve some equipment while the river was quickly rising. The 26 year old drown and his body was recovered a few days later. Portions of River Road just west of New Braunfels became flooded between 1 and 2 am in the morning.

• New Braunfels UtilitiesServes 116,477 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Clwsc Canyon Lake ShoresServes 44,196 · Surface water · Private6 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Sjwtx Triple Peak PlantServes 32,973 · Surface water · Private1 health violation+5 monitoring or reporting
• City of Garden RidgeServes 5,100 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Sjwtx Glenwood SubdivisionServes 2,985 · Purchased surface water · Private4 health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Gbra Johnson Ranch SubdivisionServes 2,322 · Purchased surface water · Local government2 health violations
• Canyon Lake Mobile Home EstatesServes 2,202 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Oak Village NorthServes 1,944 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations