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Baylor County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
199th of 254highest risk in Texas
$4Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Baylor County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 199th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,219 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Baylor County

$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 123 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.2 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$492,258 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh94.4
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low15.6
$1M
Strong windModerate62.1
$492K
TornadoLow33.8
$407K
HailLow62.7
$266K
Cold waveVery Low16.9
$112K
Heat waveVery Low32.7
$99K
WildfireLow64.5
$74K
EarthquakeVery Low20.2
$18K
Ice stormLow28.3
$18K
HurricaneVery Low31.4
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low11.8
$6K
LightningVery Low1.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low42.1
$487

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm4
Fire4
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 17
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 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1979Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor 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 368 storm reports in Baylor County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1980.

29tornadoes
209hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
113damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1980F4–0 / 0
Apr 29, 2025EF3Seymour Muni Arpt0 / 0
Apr 29, 2025EF2Red Springs0 / 0
Aug 12, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jul 6, 1971F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 13, 2007HailSeymour$3M
Apr 29, 2025TornadoSeymour Muni Arpt$400K
Mar 4, 2004Thunderstorm WindSeymour$200K
Apr 29, 2025TornadoRed Springs$200K
Apr 27, 2024TornadoRed Springs$100K
Oct 12, 1993HailSeymour$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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.

Flood insurance in Baylor County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$22,602paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1989costliest year, with $19,744 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 Baylor County

$103,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 2,190 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
Archer CountyVery Low19
Haskell CountyVery Low15
Knox CountyVery Low15
Throckmorton CountyVery Low18
Foard CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Baylor County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Baylor County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Baylor County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Baylor County had?

Baylor County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Baylor County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 199th 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 Baylor County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Baylor 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 Baylor County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Baylor County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1980. The weather service has also logged 209 hail reports and 17 floods here.

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.