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Archer County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
222nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$4Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Archer County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 222nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $455 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $889,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Archer County

$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$635,246 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 130 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$545,232 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low8.6
$1M
WildfireLow84.4
$635K
TornadoLow31.7
$545K
DroughtModerate70.8
$527K
Strong windLow30.9
$288K
HailLow49.0
$242K
Heat waveLow41.5
$237K
Cold waveVery Low18.4
$189K
Ice stormLow35.3
$41K
EarthquakeVery Low20.5
$29K
Winter weatherVery Low16.1
$13K
HurricaneVery Low28.8
$12K
LightningVery Low3.7
$12K
LandslideVery Low31.6
$334

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 relatively moderate 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 Archer County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire6
Severe Storm5
Hurricane4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Flood1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2011Sisk Road FireFire management
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Feb 28, 2008New Archer FireFire management
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 654 storm reports in Archer County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $6.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 10, 1979.

31tornadoes
476hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 10, 1979F4–0 / 0
May 14, 1986F3–4 / 0
Apr 8, 1961F3–1 / 0
Apr 26, 1994F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1985F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 14, 1986Tornado–$3M
Apr 26, 2025LightningLakeside City$800K
Apr 26, 1994Tornado–$500K
Mar 4, 2004Thunderstorm WindLake Kickapoo$500K
Apr 21, 1985Tornado–$250K
May 27, 2000HailHolliday$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 7, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Archer County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 55 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 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 Archer County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (39 policies)
15.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$889,400paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $399,767 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 Archer County

$189,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.2%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; 3,966 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
Wichita CountyModerate22
Young CountyVery Low19
Wilbarger CountyLow15
Clay CountyVery Low19
Jack CountyVery Low17
Baylor CountyVery Low17
Throckmorton CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Archer County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Archer County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Archer County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $635,246.

How many federal disasters has Archer County had?

Archer County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Archer County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 222nd 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 Archer County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Archer 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 Archer County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Archer County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 10, 1979. The weather service has also logged 476 hail reports and 30 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Archer County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Archer County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 55 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.