Key facts: Fort Worth
- Fort Worth was built where the Clear and West forks of the Trinity meet, and a major flood in May 1949 led to much of today's levee system.[1]
- Levees lower river risk, but intense rain can still fill local creeks and underpasses.
- Never drive into water you can't see through.
Levees and low streets
Levees lower river risk, but intense rain can still fill local creeks and underpasses. Never drive into water you can't see through.
Older near-side homes
Bungalows on the south and near west sides often have pier-and-beam floors. Check the crawl space after any leak, since water collects unseen.
Flood claims recorded in Tarrant County
Fort Worth sits in Tarrant County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 3,569 |
| Year with the most claims | 1989 (433) |
| Largest named event | Flooding (809) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 44% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 59% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Fort Worth claim record shows
For Fort Worth homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Tarrant County claims: Flooding (809 claims), Thunderstorms (108 claims) and Early Summer Storms (70 claims).
About 44% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a Fort Worth home stays dry.
If your Fort Worth home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 59% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Tarrant County
FEMA lists 28 federal declarations covering Tarrant County. The most common types are hurricane (8), severe storm (5) and fire (5). The latest are Severe Winter Storms in 2021, Severe Winter Storm in 2021 and Tropical Storms Marco and Laura in 2020. If your loss falls inside an open declaration, Fort Worth homeowners can check DisasterAssistance.gov as well as their insurance policy.
Fort Worth weather and your home
Weather records for Fort Worth from 2015 through 2024 average 44 inches of precipitation a year, and May and October are the wettest months. The area averages 10.8 days a year with an inch or more.
Frost reaches Fort Worth on about 18 nights a year, but hard freezes are less common, which can leave pipes in attics and outer walls poorly protected in a cold snap.
With about 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter, Fort Worth air conditioners run hard, and a clogged condensate line can soak a ceiling without warning.
When rain falls in Fort Worth
Seasonal averages for Fort Worth, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 9.3 in | 21% |
| April to June | 15.1 in | 34% |
| July to September | 8.0 in | 18% |
| October to December | 11.4 in | 26% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Fort Worth home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 17% of Tarrant County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Test any sump pump before May, since Fort Worth averages 11 days a year with an inch or more.
- Clear the air conditioner drain line before the 98 days of 90°F heat begin.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Flooding, 809 insured Tarrant County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Fort Worth contractor
- Whether your home is pier-and-beam
- Your nearest creek
- Whether hail hit the roof
Services Fort Worth callers ask about
Questions
Fort Worth water damage questions
What is pier-and-beam?
A raised floor on supports, with a crawl space below.
Do you cover Arlington?
Yes, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie and Plano are in our coverage data.