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Edwards County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
228th of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Edwards County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 228th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,444 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (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 Edwards County

$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$198,245 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 148 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$156,880 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 575 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.8
$1M
DroughtLow61.9
$198K
WildfireLow74.5
$157K
HailLow37.0
$100K
TornadoVery Low13.7
$74K
Cold waveVery Low9.4
$43K
LightningVery Low16.3
$35K
HurricaneVery Low45.2
$30K
Strong windVery Low5.1
$22K
Heat waveVery Low10.6
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low20.1
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low5.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low44.5
$571
Ice stormVery Low0.2
$109

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 Edwards County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Fire4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 238 storm reports in Edwards County since 1962, with 2 deaths and 15 injuries and about $924,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on September 17, 1988.

4tornadoes
119hail reports, largest 5 inches
19damaging thunderstorm winds
96floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 17, 1988F0–0 / 0
May 9, 1989F0–0 / 0
May 24, 2001F0Rocks Spgs0 / 0
Jan 24, 2012EF0Rocks Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$150K
Aug 23, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$110K
Nov 15, 2001Thunderstorm WindBarksdale$100K
Nov 15, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$80K
Oct 11, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$80K
Aug 23, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$55K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Edwards County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 65 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 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 Edwards 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 Edwards County

n/amedian home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.6%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; 815 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
Kerr CountyLow19
Val Verde CountyLow15
Uvalde CountyLow19
Kimble CountyVery Low19
Sutton CountyVery Low16
Kinney CountyVery Low14
Real CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Edwards County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Edwards County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Edwards County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $198,245.

How many federal disasters has Edwards County had?

Edwards County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Edwards County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 228th 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 Edwards 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 Edwards County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Edwards County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on September 17, 1988. The weather service has also logged 119 hail reports and 96 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Edwards County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Edwards County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 65 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.