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El Paso County, Texas

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

Relatively High overall risk
15th of 254highest risk in Texas
$121Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

El Paso County, Texas has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 96% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $121 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $140 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,695 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.3 million on 780 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in El Paso County

$69.9 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.

Hail

Very High
$15 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$14 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh96.8
$70M
HailVery High99.6
$15M
Heat waveHigh98.7
$14M
LightningVery High99.9
$7M
EarthquakeModerate92.1
$5M
Cold waveModerate83.5
$3M
Winter weatherVery High99.9
$2M
Strong windHigh95.4
$2M
DroughtHigh96.0
$2M
TornadoLow34.8
$434K
Ice stormModerate70.5
$148K
WildfireLow71.0
$119K
HurricaneVery Low41.1
$21K
LandslideVery Low44.7
$607
AvalancheVery Low20.2
$23

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 El Paso County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane5
Fire3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 15, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 13
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Nov 30, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 455 storm reports in El Paso County since 1957, with 7 deaths and 43 injuries and about $674 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1992.

6tornadoes
159hail reports, largest 3.25 inches
126damaging thunderstorm winds
155floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jul 19, 1972F1–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1988F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 4, 2016HailSocorro$300M
Aug 1, 2006Flash FloodNorthwest Portion$180M
Sep 16, 2009HailSocorro$100M
Aug 1, 2006Flash FloodNorthwest Portion$20M
Sep 16, 2009HailSocorro$20M
Sep 16, 2009HailEl Paso Intl Ar$20M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 1929, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of El Paso County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 50 mph about 48 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1929most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 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 El Paso County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,695 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.3 millionpaid on 780 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $2.3 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 El Paso County

$180,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.4%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; 323,571 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
Doña Ana County, NMHigh8
Otero County, NMModerate22
Hudspeth CountyVery Low11

Cities in El Paso County

Common questions about El Paso County

What is the biggest natural hazard in El Paso County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in El Paso County, about $69.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $15 million.

How many federal disasters has El Paso County had?

El Paso County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is El Paso County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 15th 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 El Paso County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in El Paso 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 El Paso County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in El Paso County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1992. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 155 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit El Paso County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of El Paso County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 50 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.