Flood Damage Insurance Claims in San Marcos, TX

Flood damage insurance claims in San Marcos are different from almost every other property claim. The policy is usually separate from your homeowners coverage, the rules come largely from the federal flood program, and the deadlines are strict. Whether water came from the Blanco River, the San Marcos River, a creek like Sink or Purgatory, or sheets of runoff across a neighborhood, the first questions are the same: what kind of water was it, and which policy responds? As a San Marcos public adjuster, we help homeowners and businesses answer those questions and assemble a complete claim.

Flood History Along the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers

Hays County sits along the Balcones Escarpment, and NOAA lists 127 flash-flood reports for the county, most often in June, May, and October. Several floods shaped how the community thinks about risk:

• Memorial Day flood, May 23–24, 2015: the Blanco River at Wimberley rose from about 5 feet to about 41 feet in roughly four hours, and the San Marcos River near San Marcos crested at 43.08 feet. The National Weather Service issued Flash Flood Emergencies for Wimberley and San Marcos (FEMA DR-4223).
• October 30–31, 2015: two-day rainfall reached 18.46 inches near Buda and 15.63 inches north of San Marcos (FEMA DR-4245).
• Halloween flood, October 30–31, 2013: 12 to 14 inches fell from Wimberley to Driftwood (FEMA DR-4159).
• October 17–18, 1998: the NWS estimated more than 30 inches of rain over a small area south of San Marcos in 36 hours (FEMA DR-1257).

Since 2015, the city has used federal HUD CDBG-DR funding for flood mitigation, including the Blanco River Flood Mitigation Project. Our San Marcos flood claims article covers the history and the claim process in more depth.

Flood Maps and NFIP Coverage in San Marcos

The City of San Marcos participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. New FEMA flood maps covering the Blanco River, the San Marcos River, and portions of Sink, Purgatory, Willow Springs, and Cottonwood Creeks took effect on January 17, 2025, according to the city’s flood map revision page. If your property’s zone changed, your lender requirements and premium may have changed too.

Flood zones are about risk, not coverage. A home outside a mapped high-risk zone can still flood, and owners outside those zones are often not required by a lender to carry flood insurance.

What We Review and Document on a Flood Claim

Common Issues With Flood Claims in Hays County

Flood versus other water

Rising water from outside is generally flood. A burst pipe or a roof leak is usually a homeowners claim. When a storm causes both, each insurer may point at the other, so documenting where the water entered is critical. See our water damage claims page for the non-flood side.

Strict proof-of-loss timing

NFIP policies require a signed proof of loss within a set period after the loss. Policyholders who wait for the adjuster’s report can run out of time.

Underestimated drying and tear-out

Slab-on-grade homes, common in San Marcos subdivisions, absorb water into drywall, baseboards, cabinets, and insulation. A scope that only replaces the lowest few inches may not match the actual waterline.

Depreciation on contents

Many flood policies pay contents at actual cash value, which reduces the payment for older items. Our RCV versus ACV guide explains the difference.

After the Water Recedes: First Steps

Flood cleanup is exhausting, and it is tempting to haul everything to the curb as fast as possible. A few steps help preserve the claim while you work:

1. Wait until it is safe. Have utilities checked before turning power or gas back on, and wear protective gear; floodwater can carry sewage and debris.
2. Measure and photograph the waterline in every room, inside and out, with a tape measure visible in the shot.
3. Report to your flood insurer right away and write down the claim number. If you also have wind or roof damage, report that separately to your property insurer.
4. Photograph contents before disposal. Capture model and serial numbers on appliances and electronics, and keep small samples of carpet and flooring if possible.
5. Start drying. Remove wet carpet, pad, and saturated drywall as needed to slow mold growth, and keep mitigation invoices and moisture logs.
6. Calendar the proof-of-loss deadline as soon as you learn it.

Our claim documentation checklist is a helpful place to keep track as you go.

Our Flood Claim Process

1. Confirm which policies apply and calendar every deadline.
2. Document waterlines, damaged materials, and building systems before tear-out where possible.
3. Build a contents inventory and a line-item building estimate.
4. Prepare and submit the proof of loss with supporting documentation.
5. Follow up with the flood adjuster and pursue additional payment requests when more damage is found.

If You Do Not Have Flood Insurance

Many owners discover after the fact that their homeowners policy does not cover rising water. Even then, it is worth reviewing the policy, because some damage from the same event, such as wind damage to the roof or a separately caused plumbing leak, may still fall under it. Federal assistance is only available when a disaster declaration includes individual assistance for Hays County, and it is not a substitute for insurance.

When to Call a Public Adjuster About Flooding

Consider calling a public adjuster in San Marcos if the proof-of-loss deadline is approaching and you do not yet have a complete estimate, if the flood adjuster’s scope stops below your waterline, if your contents list is overwhelming, or if your homeowners insurer and flood insurer disagree on the cause. If the same storm also brought wind or hail, our storm damage claims page explains how to handle both. For a no-cost first look, request a free claim review.