Delta County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | 49.3 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 6.4 | $848K | ||
| Drought | 79.6 | $833K | ||
| Ice storm | 81.3 | $414K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.2 | $240K | ||
| Hail | 45.5 | $202K | ||
| Heat wave | 36.3 | $174K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.8 | $134K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.5 | $39K | ||
| Hurricane | 41.4 | $30K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.6 | $23K | ||
| Lightning | 6.0 | $17K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.5 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 2.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 16
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 1964 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1954 | F2 | – | 8 / 1 |
| Apr 2, 1957 | F2 | – | 2 / 1 |
| Apr 18, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2003 | F1 | Klondike | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cooper | $150K |
| May 9, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Enloe | $150K |
| May 24, 2003 | Tornado | Klondike | $75K |
| Apr 26, 2017 | Hail | Klondike | $75K |
| May 9, 2024 | Hail | Ben Franklin | $60K |
| Apr 19, 1996 | Hail | Klondike | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 20, 1947 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 53 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 20, 1947 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 53 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt County | 15 | |
| Lamar County | 22 | |
| Hopkins County | 19 | |
| Fannin County | 18 | |
| Red River County | 24 | |
| Franklin County | 17 |
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.