Does Greatwood flood?
Greatwood, Sugar Land, TX · ZIP code 77479: the ZIP code on 38 of the 38 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Greatwood have filed flood claims. About 25% of Greatwood’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 38 claims from the Census block groups that cover Greatwood, from 1998 through 2025. 16 of them received a payment, totaling $379,089 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (16 claims), 2008 (4 claims), 2015 (4 claims).
What this page counts as Greatwood
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Greatwood, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Greatwood 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 Greatwood (feature 1852709) and inside the Sugar Land 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 Greatwood. 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 Greatwood
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 Greatwood
The named streets in Greatwood, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Greatwood lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Greatwood; 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. 83 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatwood Pkwy | 1.7 mi | 0.6% | X (unshaded, minimal) (99%) |
| Southwest Fwy | 1.3 mi | 12% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Riverbrook Dr | 5,270 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Greatwood Lake Dr | 4,910 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Shadow Bend Dr | 4,110 ft | 3.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (97%) |
| Nowak | 3,600 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Winding Brook E | 3,230 ft | 2.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (97%) |
| Winding Brook East Dr | 3,100 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Azalea Bend | 2,900 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Forest Bnd | 2,400 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Guinevere Dr | 2,070 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Emerald Glen Dr | 2,040 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Upland Park Ct | 2,020 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Greatwood Glen Dr | 1,980 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Northwoods Dr | 1,960 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Shannondale Dr | 1,940 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Deerbrook Dr | 1,890 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rabbs Xing | 1,880 ft | 8.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (92%) |
| Big Bend Dr | 1,770 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Winding Brook West Dr | 1,710 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hillside Forest Dr | 1,710 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Tara Blvd | 1,620 ft | 8.8% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| Hidden Terrace Dr | 1,520 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Forest Brk | 1,500 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Timberlake Dr | 1,500 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
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 October 31, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Greatwood
Share of Greatwood’s mapped area (about 6.483 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 68 to 68 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (48157C0260L, 48157C0265L, 48157C0270L): April 2, 2014.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 75% |
| AE | 24% |
| A | 0.7% |
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 Greatwood. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1 | $0 |
| 2000s | 6 | $10,376 |
| 2010s | 27 | $319,239 |
| 2020s | 4 | $49,473 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Harvey: 16 claims
- Hurricane Ike: 4 claims
- Early summer storms: 4 claims
- Spring severe storms: 4 claims
- Tropical Storm Allison: 1 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 38
How much is flood insurance in Greatwood?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Greatwood costs $1,082 a year: the median of 785 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $774 and $1,210. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed October 31, 2026.
Why home insurance costs what it does in Greatwood
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 Greatwood, within 10 km of it.
- ZIP code 77479: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $806 a year, the middle of 7,915 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $679 and $979. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 77479: NFIP records list 604 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 Sugar Land, TX a Risk to Homes national percentile rank of 0.647, which its methods call Medium (above the 40th percentile and below the 70th). That is the city rating, not a rating of Greatwood 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 Greatwood?
ZIP code 77479: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $806 a year, the middle of 7,915 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $679 and $979. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 77479: NFIP records list 604 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 Greatwood?
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 Greatwood
- 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 Greatwood
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Greatwood with other Sugar Land neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Sugar Land on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Greatwood flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Greatwood have filed flood claims. About 25% of Greatwood’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 38 claims from the Census block groups that cover Greatwood, from 1998 through 2025. 16 of them received a payment, totaling $379,089 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (16 claims), 2008 (4 claims), 2015 (4 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Greatwood in a flood zone?
About 25% of Greatwood’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) 75%; AE 24%; A 0.7%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect April 2, 2014.
Which streets in Greatwood are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Nowak lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of Greatwood Pkwy, Riverbrook Dr, Greatwood Lake Dr, Shadow Bend Dr, Winding Brook E, Winding Brook East Dr, Azalea Bend and Forest Bnd does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Greatwood in?
Greatwood is in Sugar Land, TX. ZIP code 77479: the ZIP code on 38 of the 38 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.
How much is flood insurance in Greatwood?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Greatwood cost $1,082 a year: the median of 785 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $774 and $1,210. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
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
- New Territory
- Does First Colony flood?
- Hall Lake
- Ragus Lake Estates
- Does Covington West 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 October 31, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Fort Bend County (county code 48157), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 481576746022, 481576746031, 481576746011. 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 October 31, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 31, 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.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- 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 October 31, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 31, 2026.