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Bastrop County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
48th of 254highest risk in Texas
$43Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bastrop County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 48th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $43 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $438 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (474 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.9 million on 331 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Bastrop County

$26.7 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.
$7.4 million 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.5 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 floodingModerate86.2
$27M
TornadoHigh91.1
$7M
Cold waveModerate74.9
$3M
Heat waveModerate83.6
$2M
HailModerate85.1
$1M
Strong windModerate68.1
$872K
DroughtModerate76.4
$708K
LightningModerate70.2
$481K
HurricaneLow63.2
$279K
Winter weatherModerate79.8
$199K
WildfireLow71.8
$189K
Ice stormLow57.9
$116K
EarthquakeVery Low21.0
$30K
LandslideVery Low43.0
$778

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 Bastrop County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire13
Flood5
Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 2015Hidden Pines FireFire management
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 29
Sep 4, 2011Bastrop County Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2009Montague Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 28, 2009Wilderness Ridge FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 19, 2006Orchard FireFire management
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2006Cedar Creek FireFire management
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 5, 2000Bob'S Trail FireFire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor 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 385 storm reports in Bastrop County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 111 injuries and about $11.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1957.

35tornadoes
146hail reports, largest 5.5 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
99floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 24, 1957F3–1 / 0
Apr 7, 1980F3–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1953F3–3 / 0
Nov 17, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jan 14, 1991F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 17, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Oct 30, 2015Flash FloodElysium$2M
May 25, 2015Flash FloodBastrop$2M
Aug 27, 2017FloodBastrop$2M
Apr 24, 1957Tornado–$250K
Nov 17, 1971Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 10, 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 1854, 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bastrop County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 95 mph about 65 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2017most recent: Harvey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph65 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Sep 17, 1875UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Sep 19, 1854UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Jul 22, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 26, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi
Jun 17, 2015BillTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 55 mph47 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaCategory 1, 90 mph62 mi
Jul 28, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 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 Bastrop County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (474 policies)
21.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9.9 millionpaid on 331 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $3.3 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 Bastrop County

$314,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1999median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24%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; 39,706 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
Travis CountyHigh35
Williamson CountyModerate23
Caldwell CountyLow22
Fayette CountyLow22
Lee CountyVery Low20

Cities in Bastrop County

Common questions about Bastrop County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bastrop County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bastrop County, about $26.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bastrop County had?

Bastrop County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in April 2023.

Is Bastrop County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 48th 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 Bastrop County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Bastrop 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 Bastrop County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Bastrop County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1957. The weather service has also logged 146 hail reports and 99 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bastrop County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bastrop County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 95 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.