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Dimmit County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
156th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: Public domain (CC0)

Dimmit County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 156th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are heat waves, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $730 per resident. Since 1984 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $476,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Dimmit County

Heat wave

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$551,108 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Heat waveModerate94.9
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low19.4
$1M
Cold waveLow51.2
$551K
DroughtModerate80.7
$537K
TornadoLow28.2
$250K
HurricaneLow61.8
$137K
LightningLow39.4
$87K
HailVery Low22.7
$46K
WildfireVery Low54.5
$34K
Strong windVery Low6.4
$24K
Ice stormVery Low26.1
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low13.3
$6K
EarthquakeVery Low8.7
$5K
LandslideVery Low5.8
$5

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 Dimmit County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Hurricane4
Fire3
Freezing2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 2008322 FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 17
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jan 9, 1990Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1984Severe Freezing WeatherMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 134 storm reports in Dimmit County since 1959 and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on February 25, 1971.

3tornadoes
60hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
21damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 25, 1971F2–0 / 0
Apr 27, 1972F1–0 / 0
Sep 17, 1988F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 17, 2026FloodPalm$1M
Mar 18, 2016LightningPalm$500K
Sep 28, 2021LightningBrundage$250K
Jun 23, 1994Thunderstorm WindBig Wells$100K
Aug 27, 2004Thunderstorm WindValley Wells$100K
May 21, 2007Thunderstorm WindCarrizo Spgs$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 17, 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, 2 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dimmit County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 85 mph about 59 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2008most recent: Dolly

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 15, 1919UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Aug 13, 1880UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Jul 26, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 24, 2008DollyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Jun 26, 1954AliceTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Jul 26, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 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 Dimmit County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (21 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$475,989paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $210,000 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 Dimmit County

$85,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.9%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; 4,023 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
Webb CountyModerate21
Maverick CountyLow14
Frio CountyLow17
Zavala CountyLow18
La Salle CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Dimmit County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dimmit County?

Heat wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Dimmit County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Dimmit County had?

Dimmit County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1984, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Dimmit County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 156th 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 Dimmit County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Dimmit 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 Dimmit County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Dimmit County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on February 25, 1971. The weather service has also logged 60 hail reports and 48 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dimmit County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dimmit County. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 85 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.