Flood Risk Is Relatively High in Hidalgo County

The FEMA National Risk Index rated Hidalgo County as 'Relatively High' risk compared to the rest of the United States. The county sits in a flat river delta. Water has few places to drain quickly, which means even moderate rain can cause flooding.

Before buying land or a home here, look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. That free tool shows whether a property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area—also called the 100-year floodplain.

If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and you have a federally backed mortgage, you will be required to carry flood insurance. Even if you are not required to, flood insurance is worth considering given the county's risk level.