Home › Texas › Culberson County

Culberson County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
210th of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Culberson County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 210th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,292 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 5 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 Culberson County

$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 121 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$513,928 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Very Low
$77,322 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh96.7
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low6.6
$514K
Strong windVery Low16.5
$77K
WildfireLow67.2
$76K
HailVery Low24.5
$49K
Ice stormLow49.5
$45K
EarthquakeVery Low26.9
$30K
Cold waveVery Low8.1
$30K
LightningVery Low13.6
$26K
Winter weatherLow32.5
$18K
Heat waveVery Low14.4
$18K
TornadoVery Low5.7
$14K
HurricaneVery Low11.4
$1K
AvalancheVery Low40.2
$145
LandslideVery Low25.9
$114

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 144 storm reports in Culberson County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $465,700 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 12, 1982.

6tornadoes
51hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
69damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 12, 1982F2–0 / 0
Oct 2, 1995F1Pine Springs0 / 0
Jun 4, 1985F0–0 / 0
May 22, 1992F0–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1997F0Pine Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 1982Tornado–$250K
Jul 17, 1996Thunderstorm WindVan Horn$50K
May 9, 2023Thunderstorm WindVan Horn$50K
Jul 7, 2018Thunderstorm WindVan Horn$30K
Aug 17, 2020Thunderstorm WindVan Horn$20K
May 23, 2018HailPine Spgs$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1929, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Culberson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 50 mph about 45 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1929most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph45 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph45 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 Culberson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$63,112paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $63,112 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 Culberson County

$79,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.4%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; 1,097 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
Otero County, NMModerate22
Eddy County, NMModerate9
Reeves CountyVery Low11
Hudspeth CountyVery Low11
Jeff Davis CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Culberson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Culberson County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Culberson County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $513,928.

How many federal disasters has Culberson County had?

Culberson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Culberson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 210th 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 Culberson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Culberson 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 Culberson County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Culberson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 12, 1982. The weather service has also logged 51 hail reports and 17 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Culberson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Culberson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 50 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.