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DeWitt County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
39th of 254highest risk in Texas
$31Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 42homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

DeWitt County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,584 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance (200 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 227 claims here, including $2.4 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 DeWitt County

$21.8 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate89.2
$22M
HurricaneModerate90.3
$5M
TornadoModerate70.7
$2M
Cold waveModerate73.2
$1M
Heat waveLow66.6
$473K
DroughtModerate72.0
$357K
HailLow67.4
$303K
LightningModerate63.0
$227K
Strong windLow34.9
$211K
WildfireLow67.6
$88K
Ice stormLow33.3
$23K
Winter weatherLow35.8
$23K
EarthquakeVery Low21.3
$19K
LandslideVery Low17.0
$48

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane9
Flood4
Severe Storm2
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 260 storm reports in DeWitt County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 570 injuries and about $26.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1969.

15tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
69damaging thunderstorm winds
110floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1969F2–0 / 0
May 16, 1969F1–0 / 0
Sep 20, 1996F1Cuero0 / 0
Apr 23, 1978F1–0 / 0
Nov 23, 2004F1Cuero0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 18, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindCountywide$6M
Apr 15, 1994HailCountywide$6M
Aug 28, 2017FloodLindenau$3M
Oct 17, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Apr 5, 1994HailHochheim$550K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 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 1851, 12 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of DeWitt County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 140 mph about 62 miles away.

12hurricanes
4major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2020most recent: Beta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 140 mph62 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 3, 130 mph64 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Jul 15, 1866UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph60 mi
Sep 17, 1875UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 2020BetaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteCategory 1, 85 mph58 mi
Sep 7, 2002FayTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 11, 1998FrancesTropical storm, 50 mph62 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 DeWitt County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (200 policies)
14.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 227 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $2.4 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 DeWitt County

$170,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.4%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; 9,238 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
Victoria CountyModerate26
Lavaca CountyLow17
Gonzales CountyModerate20
Karnes CountyLow14
Goliad CountyVery Low19

Common questions about DeWitt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in DeWitt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in DeWitt County, about $21.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has DeWitt County had?

DeWitt County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is DeWitt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 39th 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 DeWitt County?

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

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in DeWitt County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1969. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 110 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit DeWitt County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of DeWitt County, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 140 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.