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Burleson County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
173rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$3.2 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Drought

Moderate
$958,007 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 47 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low34.9
$3M
Cold waveLow60.5
$1M
DroughtModerate84.7
$958K
HurricaneLow72.5
$583K
TornadoLow36.5
$581K
Heat waveLow47.6
$263K
HailLow55.5
$256K
Strong windLow29.8
$229K
LightningLow34.8
$104K
Ice stormLow55.3
$85K
Winter weatherLow33.7
$28K
WildfireVery Low42.6
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low17.7
$18K
LandslideVery Low16.8
$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

Hurricane6
Flood4
Fire3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
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
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
Nov 20, 1987Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster

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.

22tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
90damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 10, 2000F3Caldwell2 / 0
Mar 20, 1957F3–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1987F2–12 / 2
Jun 7, 1989F2–4 / 0
Oct 17, 1998F2Caldwell0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jun 7, 1989Tornado–$3M
May 1, 2000HailCooks Pt$2M
Oct 17, 1998TornadoCaldwell$2M
Mar 10, 2000TornadoCaldwell$1M
Sep 20, 1996TornadoChriesman$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.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
19tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph64 mi
Aug 17, 1915UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph58 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 16, 1970FeliceTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (82 policies)
14.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 63 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $429,100 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 Burleson County

$191,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.3%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; 9,579 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
Brazos CountyModerate17
Washington CountyLow18
Milam CountyLow20
Lee CountyVery Low20
Robertson CountyVery Low16

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.