Callahan County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Callahan County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 202nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $349 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 8 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 Callahan 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 13.9 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 52.7 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 85.0 | $958K | ||
| Wildfire | 82.0 | $406K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.9 | $253K | ||
| Drought | 59.9 | $223K | ||
| Heat wave | 43.4 | $216K | ||
| Cold wave | 16.5 | $139K | ||
| Winter weather | 52.4 | $56K | ||
| Lightning | 16.0 | $44K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.0 | $11K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.5 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.2 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 38.9 | $489 |
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 Callahan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 450 storm reports in Callahan County since 1950, with 5 deaths and 12 injuries and about $14.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 28, 1950.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1950 | F4 | – | 5 / 5 |
| May 25, 1976 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 1982 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1962 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1962 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 1962 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 25, 1976 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 14, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 1, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clyde | $2M |
| Oct 17, 2018 | Flood | Clyde | $1M |
| Jul 6, 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $800K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 28, 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.
Flood insurance in Callahan 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 Callahan 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; 6,539 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor County | 20 | |
| Brown County | 23 | |
| Jones County | 22 | |
| Eastland County | 24 | |
| Coleman County | 16 | |
| Shackelford County | 16 |
Common questions about Callahan County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Callahan County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Callahan County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Callahan County had?
Callahan County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Callahan County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 202nd 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 Callahan County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Callahan 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 Callahan County had?
NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Callahan County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 28, 1950. The weather service has also logged 270 hail reports and 31 floods here.
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.