Borden County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Borden County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 229th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $4,253 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No 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 Borden County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 93.5 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 60.8 | $318K | ||
| Wildfire | 74.7 | $208K | ||
| Inland flooding | 0.7 | $160K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.0 | $67K | ||
| Tornado | 11.3 | $65K | ||
| Cold wave | 8.4 | $47K | ||
| Heat wave | 7.4 | $9K | ||
| Winter weather | 6.1 | $4K | ||
| Lightning | 0.7 | $2K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.8 | $2K | ||
| Ice storm | 3.8 | $1K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.7 | $674 | ||
| Landslide | 5.2 | $6 |
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 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 Borden County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 210 storm reports in Borden County since 1954 and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 5, 2005 near Lake J B Thomas.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2005 | F2 | Lake J B Thomas | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 13, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 2005 | F0 | Gail | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1985 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2005 | Hail | Gail | $550K |
| Jun 5, 2005 | Hail | Lake J B Thomas | $205K |
| Jun 5, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gail | $150K |
| Jun 5, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gail | $100K |
| Jun 4, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gail | $100K |
| Jun 5, 2005 | Tornado | Lake J B Thomas | $80K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Borden County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 40 mph about 50 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 50 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 50 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 Borden 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 Borden 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; 368 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 18 | |
| Scurry County | 13 | |
| Dawson County | 14 | |
| Mitchell County | 12 | |
| Garza County | 15 | |
| Lynn County | 16 | |
| Martin County | 13 |
Common questions about Borden County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Borden County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Borden County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $318,028.
How many federal disasters has Borden County had?
Borden County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Borden County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 229th 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 Borden County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Borden County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Borden County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 5, 2005 near Lake J B Thomas. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 22 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Borden County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Borden County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 40 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.