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Dallas County, Texas

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

Very High overall risk
2nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$973Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Shiva Shenoy from Flower Mound, United States, CC BY 2.0

Dallas County, Texas has a very high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is in the top 1% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $973 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $373 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (4,809 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $69 million on 3,457 claims here.

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

Top risks in Dallas County

$324 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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.

Heat wave

Very High
$288 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Hail

Very High
$128 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 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
Inland floodingVery High99.6
$324M
Heat waveVery High99.9
$288M
HailVery High100.0
$128M
TornadoVery High99.8
$115M
Cold waveVery High99.9
$98M
EarthquakeModerate91.3
$5M
Strong windVery High98.5
$5M
Ice stormVery High99.7
$5M
LightningVery High98.1
$3M
Winter weatherVery High98.7
$1M
HurricaneLow73.6
$676K
WildfireLow80.3
$349K
DroughtLow34.2
$32K
LandslideVery Low46.4
$917

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane8
Severe Storm6
Flood4
Fire4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Show all 25
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
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
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Apr 29, 1994Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 1979Storms & Flash FloodsMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 2,035 storm reports in Dallas County since 1952, with 50 deaths and 886 injuries and about $5.3 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on December 26, 2015 near New Hope.

109tornadoes
842hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
708damaging thunderstorm winds
325floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 26, 2015EF4New Hope468 / 10
Apr 25, 1994F4Lancaster To48 / 3
Apr 2, 1957F3–200 / 10
Oct 20, 2019EF3Gribble0 / 0
Dec 13, 1984F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 20, 2019TornadoGribble$1.6B
Jun 13, 2012HailHighland Park$900M
Aug 22, 2022Flash FloodBalch Spgs$500M
Aug 22, 2022FloodFlorence Hill$500M
Apr 3, 2012TornadoDe Soto Carroll Arpt$400M
Oct 20, 2019TornadoGarland$400M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 1871, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dallas County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 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 Dallas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (4,809 policies)
39.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$69.4 millionpaid on 3,457 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $9.4 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 Dallas County

$303,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.6%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; 1,064,965 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
Tarrant CountyHigh25
Collin CountyHigh17
Denton CountyHigh21
Ellis CountyModerate21
Kaufman CountyLow17
Rockwall CountyLow14

Common questions about Dallas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dallas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dallas County, about $324 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $288 million.

How many federal disasters has Dallas County had?

Dallas County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Dallas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very High, 2nd 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 Dallas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Dallas 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 Dallas County had?

NOAA records list 109 tornadoes in Dallas County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on December 26, 2015 near New Hope. The weather service has also logged 842 hail reports and 325 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dallas County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dallas County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 60 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.