Archer County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 8.6 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 84.4 | $635K | ||
| Tornado | 31.7 | $545K | ||
| Drought | 70.8 | $527K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.9 | $288K | ||
| Hail | 49.0 | $242K | ||
| Heat wave | 41.5 | $237K | ||
| Cold wave | 18.4 | $189K | ||
| Ice storm | 35.3 | $41K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.5 | $29K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.1 | $13K | ||
| Hurricane | 28.8 | $12K | ||
| Lightning | 3.7 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 31.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 1979 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 14, 1986 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1961 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1994 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 26, 2025 | Lightning | Lakeside City | $800K |
| Apr 26, 1994 | Tornado | – | $500K |
| Mar 4, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Kickapoo | $500K |
| Apr 21, 1985 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 27, 2000 | Hail | Holliday | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita County | 22 | |
| Young County | 19 | |
| Wilbarger County | 15 | |
| Clay County | 19 | |
| Jack County | 17 | |
| Baylor County | 17 | |
| Throckmorton County | 18 |
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.