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Comal County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
18th of 254highest risk in Texas
$144Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 42homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Comal County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $144 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $891 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,500 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $61 million on 1,223 claims here, including $23 million for floods in 1998.

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

Top risks in Comal County

$118 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times 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.
$10.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.4 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 floodingHigh96.6
$118M
TornadoHigh93.2
$11M
Cold waveModerate76.6
$3M
HailHigh94.4
$3M
Heat waveModerate88.2
$3M
WildfireModerate89.3
$1M
Strong windModerate77.0
$1M
LightningHigh89.3
$1M
Winter weatherHigh91.3
$514K
DroughtModerate66.6
$481K
HurricaneLow62.9
$326K
Ice stormModerate60.8
$160K
EarthquakeVery Low17.5
$26K
LandslideVery Low48.1
$1K

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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Fire6
Hurricane6
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Nov 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Show all 26
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 16, 2006Purgatory Road FireFire management
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2000Purgatory FireFire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Mar 2, 1999Fischer FireFire management
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 20, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 427 storm reports in Comal County since 1957, with 6 deaths and 829 injuries and about $71.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 20, 1967.

17tornadoes
182hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
145floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 20, 1967F3–0 / 0
Mar 23, 2021EF1Canyon Res0 / 0
Jul 18, 1971F1–0 / 0
Apr 13, 1977F1–0 / 0
Nov 16, 2004F1Bracken0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 17, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$50M
Jun 9, 2010Flash FloodNew Braunfels$10M
Mar 27, 1994Thunderstorm WindNew Braunfels$5M
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jul 4, 2006Flash FloodNew Braunfels$500K
Oct 15, 2019Thunderstorm WindGruene$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 1886, 3 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Comal County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 100 mph about 58 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
2017most recent: Harvey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph58 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Aug 27, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph54 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 Comal County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,500 policies)
46.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$60.7 millionpaid on 1,223 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $22.6 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 Comal County

$427,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2005median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
17%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 77,961 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
Bexar CountyHigh30
Hays CountyModerate25
Guadalupe CountyModerate21
Kendall CountyLow22
Blanco CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Comal County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Comal County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Comal County, about $118 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Comal County had?

Comal County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Comal County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 18th 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 Comal County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 42 homes in Comal 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 Comal County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Comal County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 20, 1967. The weather service has also logged 182 hail reports and 145 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Comal County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Comal County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 100 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.