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Dickens County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
205th of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Dickens County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 205th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $3.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,965 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). 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 Dickens County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 97 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Low
$353,897 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$224,052 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh96.8
$2M
HailLow70.9
$354K
Inland floodingVery Low1.9
$224K
WildfireLow76.4
$182K
Strong windLow28.2
$167K
TornadoVery Low18.0
$123K
Cold waveVery Low17.0
$109K
Heat waveVery Low12.1
$15K
LightningVery Low4.6
$9K
Ice stormVery Low17.8
$8K
Winter weatherVery Low9.0
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low4.5
$3K
HurricaneVery Low12.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low35.7
$293

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 Dickens County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

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
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
Show all 14
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 340 storm reports in Dickens County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $3.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1989.

44tornadoes
200hail reports, largest 6 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 6, 1989F3–0 / 0
Mar 28, 2017EF1Dickens0 / 0
May 25, 1996F1Mc Adoo0 / 0
Apr 17, 1976F1–0 / 0
Apr 14, 1976F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 5, 2003Flash FloodSpur$1M
Jun 1, 2018HailSpur$500K
Jul 11, 2006Thunderstorm WindSpur$300K
Jun 12, 2004HailSpur$150K
Apr 10, 2016HailDickens$150K
May 25, 1999HailDickens$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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.

Flood insurance in Dickens 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
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Dickens County

$65,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 1,151 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
Garza CountyVery Low15
Floyd CountyVery Low14
Crosby CountyVery Low14
Cottle CountyVery Low17
Stonewall CountyVery Low14
Motley CountyVery Low17
Kent CountyVery Low13
King CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Dickens County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dickens County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Dickens County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $353,897.

How many federal disasters has Dickens County had?

Dickens County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Dickens County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 205th 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 Dickens 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 Dickens County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Dickens County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1989. The weather service has also logged 200 hail reports and 11 floods here.

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.