Burleson County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Burleson County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 173rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $424 per resident. Since 1987 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (82 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 63 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Burleson County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 34.9 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 60.5 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 84.7 | $958K | ||
| Hurricane | 72.5 | $583K | ||
| Tornado | 36.5 | $581K | ||
| Heat wave | 47.6 | $263K | ||
| Hail | 55.5 | $256K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.8 | $229K | ||
| Lightning | 34.8 | $104K | ||
| Ice storm | 55.3 | $85K | ||
| Winter weather | 33.7 | $28K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.6 | $24K | ||
| Earthquake | 17.7 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 16.8 | $61 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Burleson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 238 storm reports in Burleson County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries and about $15.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 10, 2000 near Caldwell.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2000 | F3 | Caldwell | 2 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1957 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1987 | F2 | – | 12 / 2 |
| Jun 7, 1989 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Oct 17, 1998 | F2 | Caldwell | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1987 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 7, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 1, 2000 | Hail | Cooks Pt | $2M |
| Oct 17, 1998 | Tornado | Caldwell | $2M |
| Mar 10, 2000 | Tornado | Caldwell | $1M |
| Sep 20, 1996 | Tornado | Chriesman | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 15, 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, 3 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Burleson County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 105 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 17, 1915 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 14, 1932 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Jul 8, 2024 | Beryl | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 18, 1983 | Alicia | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2024 | Beryl | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 1, 1989 | Chantal | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 18, 1983 | Alicia | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 6, 1973 | Delia | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 16, 1970 | Felice | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 55 mi |
| Jun 24, 1968 | Candy | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 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 Burleson 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 Burleson 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; 9,579 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos County | 17 | |
| Washington County | 18 | |
| Milam County | 20 | |
| Lee County | 20 | |
| Robertson County | 16 |
Common questions about Burleson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Burleson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Burleson County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Burleson County had?
Burleson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1987, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.
Is Burleson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 173rd 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 Burleson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Burleson 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 Burleson County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Burleson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 10, 2000 near Caldwell. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 19 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Burleson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Burleson County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 105 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.