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Duval County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
128th of 254highest risk in Texas
$10Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Duval County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 128th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $9.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,011 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (flooding). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $299,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Duval County

$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$586,625 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh94.9
$6M
Inland floodingVery Low28.6
$2M
Heat waveLow73.3
$587K
HurricaneLow74.8
$529K
HailModerate73.3
$358K
TornadoLow31.8
$314K
Strong windVery Low15.5
$72K
Ice stormLow48.1
$43K
WildfireVery Low52.4
$30K
DroughtLow33.7
$20K
LightningVery Low5.3
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low10.2
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low7.9
$4K
LandslideVery Low7.7
$9

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 Duval County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane8
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 22, 1999Hurricane BretMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Aug 11, 1980Hurricane AllenMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1971Heavy Rains, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 214 storm reports in Duval County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 18, 1965.

18tornadoes
84hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
70damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 18, 1965F2–0 / 0
Apr 8, 1993F1Ramirez0 / 0
Jun 6, 1983F1–0 / 0
May 10, 1974F1–0 / 0
Sep 24, 1971F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 31, 2013HailBenavides$5M
Mar 31, 2013HailFreer$1M
Apr 8, 1993TornadoRamirez$500K
Jun 6, 1983Tornado–$250K
Oct 27, 2005Thunderstorm WindSan Jose$150K
May 15, 2008Thunderstorm WindBenavides$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 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, 10 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Duval County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 120 mph about 61 miles away.

10hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2023most recent: Harold

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 3, 1970CeliaCategory 3, 120 mph61 mi
Aug 18, 1916UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 1919UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph58 mi
Aug 23, 1999BretCategory 2, 95 mph64 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 1, 95 mph63 mi
Sep 20, 1967BeulahCategory 1, 90 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 22, 2023HaroldTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Jul 24, 2008DollyTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 23, 1999BretCategory 2, 95 mph64 mi
Aug 22, 1998CharleyTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 Duval County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
4.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$299,157paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $131,772 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 Duval County

$89,400median 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
12.9%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; 4,420 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
Jim Wells CountyModerate29
Live Oak CountyVery Low22
Brooks CountyLow21
La Salle CountyVery Low17
Jim Hogg CountyLow21
McMullen CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Duval County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Duval County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Duval County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Duval County had?

Duval County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2026.

Is Duval County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 128th 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 Duval County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Duval 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 Duval County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Duval County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 18, 1965. The weather service has also logged 84 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Duval County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 10 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Duval County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 120 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.