The Brazos River floods parts of Falls County

The Brazos River runs through Falls County and has a history of flooding low-lying land. FEMA has produced digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the county, covering Marlin, Lott, Rosebud, and unincorporated areas. These maps show which properties are in a Special Flood Hazard Area — the zone lenders require flood insurance for.

Before you buy land near the river, look up the property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. Search by address to see the flood zone designation. Properties in high-risk zones may require flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage, and that insurance adds to your annual costs. Even outside the mapped zone, river-bottom land can still flood, so ask neighbors and check local history.