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Atascosa County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
106th of 254highest risk in Texas
$14Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Atascosa County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 106th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $284 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (139 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $516,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in Atascosa County

$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 82 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.0
$6M
TornadoModerate82.0
$3M
DroughtHigh92.3
$1M
Heat waveModerate80.5
$995K
HailModerate87.7
$934K
Cold waveLow46.7
$535K
LightningModerate79.8
$460K
Strong windLow51.4
$369K
HurricaneLow66.8
$278K
WildfireLow74.8
$166K
Winter weatherLow55.6
$50K
Ice stormLow36.4
$28K
EarthquakeVery Low18.4
$15K
LandslideVery Low8.4
$13

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm4
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Mar 5, 2025Duke FireFire management
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 281 storm reports in Atascosa County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 15, 1980.

16tornadoes
110hail reports, largest 3 inches
76damaging thunderstorm winds
78floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1980F1–0 / 0
Feb 25, 1998F1Lytle0 / 0
Sep 11, 1992F1–0 / 0
May 6, 1972F1–1 / 0
May 6, 1972F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 19, 2002Thunderstorm WindLytle$600K
May 15, 1980Tornado–$250K
Apr 7, 2002Flash FloodNorth Portion$250K
Mar 29, 2008Thunderstorm WindJourdanton$250K
Oct 18, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$150K
Sep 8, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 26, 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 1851, 3 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Atascosa County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 115 mph about 58 miles away.

3hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2017most recent: Harvey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph58 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 105 mph57 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph53 mi
Jul 25, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 26, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph46 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Jul 31, 1978AmeliaTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 105 mph57 mi
Jun 24, 1960UnnamedTropical storm, 40 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 Atascosa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (139 policies)
8.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$515,901paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $111,545 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 Atascosa County

$174,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35.4%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; 19,214 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
Bexar CountyHigh30
Wilson CountyLow16
Medina CountyLow18
Frio CountyLow17
Karnes CountyLow14
Live Oak CountyVery Low22
La Salle CountyVery Low17
McMullen CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Atascosa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Atascosa County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Atascosa County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Atascosa County had?

Atascosa County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2026.

Is Atascosa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 106th 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 Atascosa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Atascosa 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 Atascosa County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Atascosa County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 15, 1980. The weather service has also logged 110 hail reports and 78 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Atascosa County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Atascosa County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 115 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.