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Castro County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
161st of 254highest risk in Texas
$8Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Castro County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 161st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $7.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,049 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 4 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 Castro County

Hail

High
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 99 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh96.3
$3M
DroughtHigh94.3
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low11.2
$1M
TornadoLow53.9
$992K
Cold waveLow50.5
$679K
Strong windModerate55.0
$443K
WildfireLow73.8
$163K
Winter weatherModerate74.6
$114K
LightningVery Low19.0
$45K
Heat waveVery Low18.7
$38K
EarthquakeVery Low23.6
$27K
Ice stormVery Low18.0
$9K
LandslideVery Low0.3
$0

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Show all 12
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 462 storm reports in Castro County since 1951, with 3 deaths and 45 injuries and about $24.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 12, 1960.

71tornadoes
241hail reports, largest 5 inches
119damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1960F3–32 / 3
Apr 14, 2017EF3Dimmitt Muni Arpt0 / 0
Oct 17, 1971F2–4 / 0
Jun 2, 1995F2Dimmitt3 / 0
Apr 21, 2007EF2Hart0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 1999HailHart$5M
Oct 10, 2007HailDimmitt$5M
Oct 17, 1971Tornado–$3M
May 21, 2014Thunderstorm WindHart$2M
Apr 14, 2017TornadoDimmitt Muni Arpt$1M
Oct 10, 2007Thunderstorm WindHart$680K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Castro County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Castro County

$95,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15%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; 3,024 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
Randall CountyModerate16
Hale CountyLow13
Deaf Smith CountyLow13
Lamb CountyLow14
Parmer CountyModerate13
Swisher CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Castro County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Castro County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Castro County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Castro County had?

Castro County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Castro County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 161st 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 Castro County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Castro 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 Castro County had?

NOAA records list 71 tornadoes in Castro County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 12, 1960. The weather service has also logged 241 hail reports and 29 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.