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Calhoun County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
89th of 254highest risk in Texas
$22Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 7homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Calhoun County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 89th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,077 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,585 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.0 million on 831 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Calhoun County

Hurricane

Moderate
$11 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate92.8
$11M
Inland floodingLow39.1
$4M
Cold waveModerate79.0
$3M
DroughtHigh90.9
$1M
TornadoLow46.1
$923K
LightningModerate77.5
$548K
Heat waveLow52.7
$360K
Coastal floodingLow53.8
$197K
Strong windVery Low12.2
$80K
WildfireVery Low58.1
$64K
HailVery Low19.8
$60K
Ice stormLow32.6
$32K
EarthquakeVery Low12.7
$11K
Winter weatherVery Low15.1
$10K
LandslideVery Low10.2
$24

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane15
Flood5
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2010Hurricane AlexMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Show all 26
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Jul 24, 2008Hurricane DollyMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1971Heavy Rains, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor 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 168 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 9 injuries and about $9.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 2, 1961.

32tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
70damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 2, 1961F2–0 / 0
Oct 29, 1972F2–2 / 0
May 7, 1972F2–1 / 0
Sep 20, 1967F2–1 / 0
Aug 3, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 6, 2021Heavy RainGreen Lake$5M
Aug 30, 2017FloodTivoli Gulf Cst Arpt$1M
Mar 29, 2018TornadoSeadrift$1M
May 1, 2026Thunderstorm WindPt Comfort$405K
May 13, 2024Thunderstorm WindPort Lavaca$355K
May 1, 2026Thunderstorm WindPt Comfort$326K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 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 1851, 25 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, 19 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 150 mph about 59 miles away.

25hurricanes
8major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph59 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 4, 145 mph62 mi
Aug 3, 1970CeliaCategory 4, 140 mph55 mi
Aug 25, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph46 mi
Sep 23, 1941UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph65 mi
Aug 27, 1945UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylCategory 1, 90 mph37 mi
Sep 13, 2021NicholasCategory 1, 75 mph38 mi
Sep 21, 2020BetaTropical storm, 50 mph20 mi
Sep 17, 2019ImeldaTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 25, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph46 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 60 mph47 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 Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
14.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,585 policies)
39.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8 millionpaid on 831 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $3.3 million 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 Calhoun County

$171,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.5%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; 10,833 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
Victoria CountyModerate26
Matagorda CountyLow27
Aransas CountyLow29
Jackson CountyLow21
Refugio CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $11 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 89th 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 Calhoun County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 7 homes in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 2, 1961. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 41 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calhoun County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 25 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, including 8 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 150 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.