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Delta County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
219th of 254highest risk in Texas
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Delta County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 219th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $779 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Delta County

$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$847,910 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.

Drought

Moderate
$832,949 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 37 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoLow49.3
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low6.4
$848K
DroughtModerate79.6
$833K
Ice stormModerate81.3
$414K
Cold waveVery Low22.2
$240K
HailLow45.5
$202K
Heat waveVery Low36.3
$174K
Strong windVery Low16.8
$134K
EarthquakeVery Low24.5
$39K
HurricaneVery Low41.4
$30K
WildfireVery Low39.6
$23K
LightningVery Low6.0
$17K
Winter weatherVery Low10.5
$7K
LandslideVery Low2.3
$2

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm4
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 16
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 197 storm reports in Delta County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 22, 1964.

7tornadoes
75hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
88damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 22, 1964F3–2 / 0
Jun 2, 1954F2–8 / 1
Apr 2, 1957F2–2 / 1
Apr 18, 1977F2–0 / 0
May 24, 2003F1Klondike0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 2008Thunderstorm WindCooper$150K
May 9, 2024Thunderstorm WindEnloe$150K
May 24, 2003TornadoKlondike$75K
Apr 26, 2017HailKlondike$75K
May 9, 2024HailBen Franklin$60K
Apr 19, 1996HailKlondike$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 27, 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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Delta County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 50 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph53 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 Delta County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2,841paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $2,841 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 Delta County

$164,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.7%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; 2,450 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
Hunt CountyModerate15
Lamar CountyLow22
Hopkins CountyLow19
Fannin CountyLow18
Red River CountyLow24
Franklin CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Delta County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Delta County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Delta County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $847,910.

How many federal disasters has Delta County had?

Delta County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Delta County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 219th 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 Delta County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Delta County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Delta County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 22, 1964. The weather service has also logged 75 hail reports and 27 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Delta County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Delta County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), 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.