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Cass County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
137th of 254highest risk in Texas
$11Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cass County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 137th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $379 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $773,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Cass County

$3.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.9
$3M
TornadoModerate74.0
$2M
HailModerate91.0
$1M
Strong windHigh85.5
$1M
Heat waveModerate79.6
$972K
Ice stormHigh94.1
$943K
Cold waveLow46.9
$547K
DroughtModerate68.7
$317K
EarthquakeVery Low50.7
$187K
LightningLow54.8
$181K
WildfireLow70.8
$119K
HurricaneVery Low56.3
$89K
Winter weatherLow52.5
$45K
LandslideVery Low43.2
$536

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 very 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 Cass County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Fire6
Flood5
Severe Storm5
Severe Ice Storm3

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
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 26
Sep 6, 2011Bear Creek FireFire management
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
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
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 654 storm reports in Cass County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $8.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 15, 1987.

71tornadoes
267hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
276damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 15, 1987F3–0 / 0
Apr 23, 2000F3Linden0 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F3–1 / 0
Nov 4, 2022EF3Jennings Lake0 / 0
Nov 4, 2022EF2Hughes Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 4, 2022TornadoHughes Spgs$2M
Jun 14, 2023TornadoAntioch$2M
Apr 9, 2009TornadoBoon Hall$750K
Aug 20, 1994Thunderstorm WindHughes Springs$500K
Jul 28, 2009Flash FloodAtlanta Muni Arpt$500K
Oct 9, 2009Thunderstorm WindLinden$325K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 1865, 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cass County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 60 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2019most recent: Barry

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 Cass County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$773,271paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $451,061 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 Cass County

$146,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.8%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; 13,993 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
Caddo Parish, LAModerate32
Bowie CountyLow24
Miller County, ARLow19
Morris CountyVery Low16
Marion CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Cass County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cass County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cass County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Cass County had?

Cass County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Cass County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 137th 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 Cass County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Cass 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 Cass County had?

NOAA records list 71 tornadoes in Cass County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 15, 1987. The weather service has also logged 267 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cass County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cass County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with winds near 60 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.