Amarillo, Texas: natural disaster risk
How exposed Amarillo is to floods, storms and other hazards, from FEMA and NOAA records for Randall County.
Amarillo is a city of 201,885 people in Randall County, Texas. Parts of Amarillo also reach into Potter County. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Randall County relatively moderate for natural hazards overall, about average for the US. The costliest hazards there are tornado, hail and inland flooding, with about $70.4 million in expected losses a year across the county. The weather service has logged 1,504 storm reports in the county since 1956, including 86 tornadoes and 123 floods. About 0.6% of homes in the county carry federal flood insurance.
Risk figures are for Randall County, the county with most of the population Amarillo sits in. FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; NOAA Storm Events; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Amarillo
Full Randall County report ›- 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.
- 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.
All hazards
| Hazard | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Tornado | $18M | |
| Hail | $13M | |
| Inland flooding | $13M | |
| Cold wave | $8M | |
| Wildfire | $5M | |
| Drought | $5M | |
| Strong wind | $4M | |
| Winter weather | $2M | |
| Heat wave | $1M | |
| Earthquake | $1M | |
| Lightning | $626K | |
| Ice storm | $138K |
Homes in Amarillo
Older homes and mobile homes usually take more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes. Ask about roof age, flood history and retrofits before you buy or rent.
Strongest tornadoes in Randall County
Common questions about Amarillo
Is Amarillo safe from natural disasters?
Amarillo is in Randall County, which FEMA's National Risk Index rates relatively moderate overall, about average for the US. The biggest hazards are tornado, hail, inland flooding. No place is free of risk, so check the flood map and insurance for any home you consider.
What natural disasters happen in Amarillo?
By expected yearly losses in Randall County, the top hazards are tornado (High), hail (High), inland flooding (Low). Randall County has been part of 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events.
Does Amarillo get tornadoes?
Yes. NOAA records list 86 tornadoes in Randall County since 1950; the strongest was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1970. FEMA rates tornado risk in the county high.
Do I need flood insurance in Amarillo?
Standard home insurance does not cover floods. In Randall County, about 0.6% of homes have federal flood insurance, and FEMA rates inland flooding risk low. Check the FEMA flood map for your address and get a quote even outside a high-risk zone.