ZIP code 77042, covering Houston, TX, has 122 natural disaster events in the historical record. These include 62 extreme heat events, 30 hailstorms, and 16 floods. Total documented property damage amounts to $2B. These events have resulted in 143 recorded deaths and 2,407 injuries.
With 62 recorded incidents (51% of all events), extreme heat events are the leading natural hazard for this ZIP code. Of these, 8 (13%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for heat-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). 126 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Aug 21, 2017.
There have been 30 recorded hailstorms in this area, representing 25% of all disaster events. Hail-related events have caused a combined $181K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Aug 18, 2025.
There have been 16 recorded floods in this area, representing 13% of all disaster events. Of these, 7 (44%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $690K in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jan 9, 2022.
Houston has experienced 6 extreme cold events on record. 6 fatalities have been attributed to extreme cold events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme cold event occurred on Jan 17, 2018.
Houston has experienced 6 tornadoes on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $5.5M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to tornadoes in this area. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Dec 26, 2024.
Houston has experienced 1 blizzard on record. Winter storm events have caused a combined $5K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Jan 16, 2007.
The most significant disaster event on record for Houston was Category 2 Hurricane (Typhoon) on Sep 12, 2008, which caused $2B in property damage and was linked to 9 fatalities. Another major event was EF2 Tornado (May 20, 1983), causing $2.5M in damages. EF2 Tornado on Jul 14, 1974 also caused significant damage ($2.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 77042 has experienced 122 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include extreme heat events (62 events), hailstorms (30 events), floods (16 events), extreme cold events (6 events), tornadoes (6 events), blizzard (1 event), and hurricane (1 event). The primary hazard is extreme heat events, which account for 51% of all recorded events.
Extreme heat events are the most frequently recorded hazard in Houston, TX, with 62 events documented.
Yes, Houston (ZIP 77042) has 16 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $690K in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jan 9, 2022.
Houston has 6 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $5.5M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Dec 26, 2024.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 77042 was Category 2 Hurricane (Typhoon), which occurred on Sep 12, 2008. This event caused $2B in documented property damage. It resulted in 9 reported fatalities. It was rated at severity level 3/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $2B in property damage in the Houston, TX area (ZIP 77042). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →