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Anderson County, Texas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
71st of 254highest risk in Texas
$23Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Anderson County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 71st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $402 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $293,000 on 19 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Anderson County

$9.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$6.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow69.7
$9M
TornadoHigh92.3
$6M
Cold waveModerate82.9
$3M
Strong windHigh86.5
$1M
Heat waveLow78.3
$996K
HurricaneLow73.4
$573K
LightningModerate79.5
$508K
Ice stormHigh82.4
$358K
DroughtLow63.4
$251K
WildfireLow78.2
$244K
HailLow44.1
$151K
EarthquakeVery Low40.4
$113K
Winter weatherModerate61.4
$69K
LandslideLow65.5
$3K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Anderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Fire6
Flood5
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Show all 28
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 20, 1987Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 30, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 568 storm reports in Anderson County since 1953, with 12 deaths and 93 injuries and about $38.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 15, 1987.

35tornadoes
224hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
241damaging thunderstorm winds
59floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 15, 1987F3–59 / 1
Apr 12, 1955F3–7 / 0
May 9, 1981F3–0 / 0
Oct 31, 1974F3–4 / 0
Feb 11, 1984F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 1987Tornado–$25M
Feb 11, 1984Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 2016Flash FloodPalestine$1M
Jun 9, 2010Flash FloodElkhart$1M
Apr 29, 2016Flash FloodPalestine$800K
May 4, 2023Thunderstorm WindFrankston$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 2, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1871, 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with top winds near 80 mph about 63 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Jun 4, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Jun 10, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Oct 4, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Oct 4, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 22, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 35 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Anderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
10.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$292,990paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $126,403 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Anderson County

$185,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 20,648 housing units.

Compare in Texas

All 254 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Harris CountyVery HighInland flooding
Dallas CountyVery HighInland flooding
Tarrant CountyHighInland flooding
Bexar CountyHighInland flooding
Travis CountyHighInland flooding
Collin CountyHighTornado
Denton CountyHighTornado
Hidalgo CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Henderson CountyModerate22
Cherokee CountyLow25
Houston CountyLow26
Freestone CountyLow17
Leon CountyLow27

Common questions about Anderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Anderson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anderson County, about $9.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Anderson County had?

Anderson County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Anderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 71st highest of 254 in Texas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Anderson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Anderson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Anderson County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Anderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 15, 1987. The weather service has also logged 224 hail reports and 59 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Anderson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with winds near 80 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.