Does Walnut Forest flood?
Walnut Forest, Austin, TX · ZIP code 78753: the ZIP code on 29 of the 29 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Walnut Forest have filed flood claims. About 3.5% of Walnut Forest’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 29 claims from the Census block groups that cover Walnut Forest, from 1981 through 2015. 26 of them received a payment, totaling $981,655 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2013 (8 claims), 2015 (6 claims), 1981 (6 claims).
What this page counts as Walnut Forest
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Walnut Forest, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Walnut Forest means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies within 1.6 km (1.0 miles) of the U.S. Geological Survey (GNIS) map point for Walnut Forest (feature 1370814) and inside the Austin city limits (U.S. Census Bureau), each block group going to the nearest of the places we cover. Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call Walnut Forest. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in Walnut Forest
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Walnut Forest
The named streets in Walnut Forest, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Walnut Forest lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Walnut Forest; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 57 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-35 | 3.6 mi | 0.5% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Shropshire Blvd | 1.1 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Dessau Rd | 1.1 mi | 2.2% | X (unshaded, minimal) (94%) |
| N I-35 | 1.0 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Bluff Bend Dr | 4,090 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Trotwood Dr | 4,000 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| E Yager Ln | 3,960 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| River Oaks Trl | 3,880 ft | 3.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (61%) |
| Thompkins Dr | 3,760 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| E Braker Ln | 3,670 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| E Applegate Dr | 3,580 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Berrywood Dr | 3,210 ft | 5.1% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| Rotherham Dr | 3,070 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (97%) |
| Oak Trl | 3,050 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| N Oaks Dr | 2,840 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Wedgewood Dr | 2,810 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hollybluff St | 2,650 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Natures Bend | 2,630 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Joseph Clayton Dr | 2,580 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| June Dr | 2,430 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (98%) |
| Collinwood West Dr | 2,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| January Dr | 2,380 ft | 1.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (96%) |
| Claywood Dr | 2,380 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Byers Ln | 2,300 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| River Oaks Dr | 2,240 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (97%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved November 2, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Walnut Forest
Share of Walnut Forest’s mapped area (about 5.512 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (48453C0270J, 48453C0460K): August 18, 2014, January 6, 2016.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 95% |
| AE | 3.5% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 1.1% |
| A | 0.0% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover Walnut Forest. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8 | $70,971 |
| 1990s | 3 | $42,408 |
| 2000s | 3 | $59,314 |
| 2010s | 15 | $808,964 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Flooding: 10 claims
- Early summer storms: 6 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 19
- Not reported: 7
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 3
Why home insurance costs what it does in Walnut Forest
This section is educational and is not insurance advice.
Flood insurance
ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. This is a ZIP code on at least 5% of the flood claims counted for Walnut Forest, within 10 km of it.
- ZIP code 78753: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $1,264 a year, the middle of 76 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $939 and $1,827. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 78753: NFIP records list 128 flood claims with a loss year from 1979 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
Fire and wind
- USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities gives Austin, TX a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.738, which its methods call High (above the 70th percentile and below the 90th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Walnut Forest alone. The summary file is dated April 15, 2026.
The insurance market in Texas
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association: Total policies in force, as of 6/30/2026: 288,676.
- Texas FAIR Plan Association: As of June 30, 2026: TFPA insures 118,486 properties.
What to ask your agent
- Ask the agent how old the roof is.
- Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house.
- Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy.
- Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated.
- Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Flood coverage and the 30-day wait: FEMA fact sheet, Jan. 21, 2025; 44 CFR 61.11.
What do NFIP records show for flood insurance in Walnut Forest?
ZIP code 78753: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $1,264 a year, the middle of 76 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $939 and $1,827. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 78753: NFIP records list 128 flood claims with a loss year from 1979 through 2025. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
How big are the last-resort insurance plans in Texas?
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association: Total policies in force, as of 6/30/2026: 288,676. Texas FAIR Plan Association: As of June 30, 2026: TFPA insures 118,486 properties.
What should I ask an insurance agent about a home in Walnut Forest?
Ask the agent how old the roof is. Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house. Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy. Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated. Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Sources: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3; OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3; USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries; Wildfire Risk to Communities methods; Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Overview; Texas FAIR Plan Association Fact Book, Q2 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in Walnut Forest
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in Walnut Forest
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Walnut Forest with other Austin neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Austin on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Walnut Forest flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Walnut Forest have filed flood claims. About 3.5% of Walnut Forest’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 29 claims from the Census block groups that cover Walnut Forest, from 1981 through 2015. 26 of them received a payment, totaling $981,655 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2013 (8 claims), 2015 (6 claims), 1981 (6 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Walnut Forest in a flood zone?
About 3.5% of Walnut Forest’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 95%; AE 3.5%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 1.1%; A 0.0%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect August 18, 2014, January 6, 2016.
Which streets in Walnut Forest are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of I-35, Shropshire Blvd, Dessau Rd, N I-35, Bluff Bend Dr, Trotwood Dr, E Yager Ln and River Oaks Trl does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Walnut Forest in?
Walnut Forest is in Austin, TX. ZIP code 78753: the ZIP code on 29 of the 29 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Coxville flood?
- Does Waters Park flood?
- Does Abercrombie flood?
- Does Smoot flood?
- Does Vinson flood?
- Does Oak Hill flood?
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved November 2, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Travis County (county code 48453), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved November 2, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 484530018332, 484530018352, 484530018321, 484530018353, 484530018351, 484530018322. Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on November 2, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3.
- USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities, community summaries.
- Wildfire Risk to Communities methods.
- Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Overview.
- Texas FAIR Plan Association Fact Book, Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and November 2, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated November 2, 2026.