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Bandera County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
88th of 254highest risk in Texas
$17Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 50homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bandera County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 88th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $818 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (232 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 218 claims here, including $3.8 million for floods in 2002.

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

Top risks in Bandera County

$12.5 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
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Hail

Moderate
$620,588 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate79.3
$12M
TornadoModerate65.0
$1M
HailModerate81.0
$621K
LightningHigh84.4
$597K
WildfireLow86.7
$554K
Strong windModerate61.6
$507K
DroughtModerate68.9
$326K
Cold waveLow29.5
$265K
Heat waveLow40.1
$153K
Winter weatherModerate69.3
$83K
HurricaneVery Low46.6
$35K
EarthquakeVery Low9.5
$6K
Ice stormVery Low10.3
$4K
LandslideLow66.5
$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 Bandera County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 16
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Aug 3, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 330 storm reports in Bandera County since 1959, with 7 deaths and 28 injuries and about $8.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 11, 1977.

7tornadoes
140hail reports, largest 3 inches
41damaging thunderstorm winds
141floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 1977F1–0 / 0
May 9, 1974F1–0 / 0
May 23, 1983F0–0 / 0
May 23, 1983F0–0 / 0
May 23, 1983F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Aug 16, 2007Flash FloodPipecreek$1M
Apr 5, 1994Thunderstorm WindBandera$550K
Jul 21, 2007Flash FloodMedina$100K
Apr 23, 2001Flash FloodVanderpool$80K
Jul 23, 2003Thunderstorm WindMedina Lake$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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, 2 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bandera County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 90 mph about 62 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2010most recent: Hermine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 60 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 Bandera County

Check your address flood zone ›
2%of homes have federal flood insurance (232 policies)
14.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 218 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $3.8 million 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 Bandera County

$278,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.1%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; 11,585 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
Kerr CountyLow19
Medina CountyLow18
Kendall CountyLow22
Uvalde CountyLow19
Real CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Bandera County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bandera County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bandera County, about $12.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bandera County had?

Bandera County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Bandera County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 88th 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 Bandera County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Bandera 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 Bandera County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Bandera County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 11, 1977. The weather service has also logged 140 hail reports and 141 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bandera County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bandera County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 90 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.