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Childress County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
195th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Childress County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 195th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, strong wind and hail. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $990 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Childress County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 123 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Hail

Moderate
$608,068 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh95.2
$2M
Strong windHigh89.7
$2M
HailModerate74.5
$608K
Inland floodingVery Low3.9
$537K
TornadoLow30.9
$475K
Cold waveVery Low21.9
$229K
WildfireLow64.7
$104K
Ice stormLow54.5
$92K
Heat waveVery Low22.7
$69K
Winter weatherLow49.3
$55K
EarthquakeVery Low22.7
$31K
LightningVery Low10.1
$30K
HurricaneVery Low18.5
$5K
LandslideVery Low23.8
$149

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 moderate 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 Childress County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
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
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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 449 storm reports in Childress County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $39.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 9, 2006 near Childress.

26tornadoes
216hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
192damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 9, 2006F2Childress1 / 0
Jun 6, 1951F2–0 / 0
May 25, 1987F2–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1995F1Childress1 / 0
Apr 15, 2003F1Kirkland0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 15, 2008Thunderstorm WindChildress$17M
May 9, 2006TornadoChildress$6M
May 22, 1996HailChildress$3M
Jun 15, 2008HailChildress$3M
Jul 29, 2009Thunderstorm WindChildress Arpt$2M
Jun 30, 2017HailChildress$2M

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 Childress County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,800paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1989costliest year, with $7,800 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 Childress County

$125,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 2,772 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
Hardeman CountyVery Low14
Hall CountyVery Low16
Collingsworth CountyVery Low12
Harmon County, OKVery Low18
Cottle CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Childress County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Childress County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Childress County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Childress County had?

Childress County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Childress County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 195th 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 Childress County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Childress County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Childress County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 9, 2006 near Childress. The weather service has also logged 216 hail reports and 11 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.