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Colorado County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
97th of 254highest risk in Texas
$16Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 29homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Colorado County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 97th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $772 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance (303 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 83 claims here, including $2.6 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Colorado County

$4.8 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.0
$5M
HurricaneModerate88.0
$4M
Cold waveModerate80.1
$3M
TornadoModerate71.1
$2M
DroughtHigh92.5
$1M
Heat waveLow62.2
$447K
Strong windLow47.8
$362K
LightningModerate61.3
$245K
HailLow54.5
$222K
Ice stormLow56.2
$79K
WildfireVery Low49.4
$32K
EarthquakeVery Low23.7
$27K
Winter weatherLow30.0
$21K
LandslideVery Low16.7
$54

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane7
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 18
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Colorado County since 1954, with 1 death and 25 injuries and about $31.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1966.

32tornadoes
83hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
78damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 1966F3–0 / 0
May 10, 2012EF2Weimar8 / 0
Feb 4, 1964F2–1 / 0
Feb 25, 1971F2–0 / 0
Sep 21, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 14, 1991Tornado–$25M
Apr 18, 2016Flash FloodWeimar$3M
May 10, 2012TornadoWeimar$500K
Feb 4, 1964Tornado–$250K
Oct 19, 2002Thunderstorm WindEagle Lake$215K
Jun 4, 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 25, 2025. 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 1854, 13 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Colorado County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 120 mph about 61 miles away.

13hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph61 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Oct 4, 1949UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph65 mi
Aug 17, 1915UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph62 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph59 mi
Jul 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylCategory 1, 90 mph61 mi
Sep 22, 2020BetaTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 7, 2002FayTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 11, 1998FrancesTropical storm, 40 mph64 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 Colorado County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (303 policies)
21.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 83 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $2.6 million 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 Colorado County

$209,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.9%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; 10,102 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
Wharton CountyModerate24
Austin CountyLow22
Fayette CountyLow22
Lavaca CountyLow17
Jackson CountyLow21

Common questions about Colorado County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Colorado County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Colorado County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Colorado County had?

Colorado County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Colorado County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 97th 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 Colorado County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 29 homes in Colorado 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 Colorado County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Colorado County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1966. The weather service has also logged 83 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Colorado County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 13 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Colorado County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 120 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.