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Borden County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
229th of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

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

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 73 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Low
$318,028 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$208,276 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 105 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh93.5
$2M
HailLow60.8
$318K
WildfireLow74.7
$208K
Inland floodingVery Low0.7
$160K
Strong windVery Low11.0
$67K
TornadoVery Low11.3
$65K
Cold waveVery Low8.4
$47K
Heat waveVery Low7.4
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low6.1
$4K
LightningVery Low0.7
$2K
HurricaneVery Low10.8
$2K
Ice stormVery Low3.8
$1K
EarthquakeVery Low0.7
$674
LandslideVery Low5.2
$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

Severe Storm3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Show all 13
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster

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.

11tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
74damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 2005F2Lake J B Thomas0 / 0
Jun 13, 1969F1–0 / 0
Jun 5, 2005F0Gail0 / 0
Apr 28, 1985F0–0 / 0
May 7, 1991F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 5, 2005HailGail$550K
Jun 5, 2005HailLake J B Thomas$205K
Jun 5, 2005Thunderstorm WindGail$150K
Jun 5, 2005Thunderstorm WindGail$100K
Jun 4, 2020Thunderstorm WindGail$100K
Jun 5, 2005TornadoLake 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$108,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%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; 368 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
Howard CountyLow18
Scurry CountyVery Low13
Dawson CountyVery Low14
Mitchell CountyVery Low12
Garza CountyVery Low15
Lynn CountyVery Low16
Martin CountyVery Low13

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.