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Falls County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
180th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Falls County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 180th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $353 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 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 Falls County

$1.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$635,017 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.1
$2M
TornadoModerate69.9
$2M
Cold waveLow49.5
$635K
HurricaneLow68.0
$339K
Heat waveLow53.8
$305K
HailLow62.0
$280K
LightningModerate59.5
$225K
DroughtLow62.3
$222K
Strong windLow26.0
$170K
WildfireVery Low54.5
$42K
Winter weatherLow39.1
$30K
Ice stormLow31.7
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low21.6
$22K
LandslideVery Low10.6
$21

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Falls County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Nov 30, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 253 storm reports in Falls County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on May 23, 2024 near Belvins.

19tornadoes
96hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
49floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 2024EF1Belvins0 / 0
Sep 15, 1996F1Westphalia0 / 0
Nov 17, 1971F1–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1954F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1962F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 8, 2021Thunderstorm WindWestphalia$400K
May 23, 2024TornadoBelvins$200K
Jun 10, 2023Thunderstorm WindRosebud$100K
Jun 10, 2023Thunderstorm WindRosebud$100K
Jun 16, 2023Thunderstorm WindDurango$100K
May 23, 2024HailStranger$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1871, 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Falls County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 85 mph about 50 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
1989most recent: Chantal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph50 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Aug 17, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jun 23, 1921UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 28, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jul 28, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 Falls County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$177,685paid on 9 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $58,641 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 Falls County

$110,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.3%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; 7,450 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
Bell CountyModerate20
McLennan CountyModerate20
Milam CountyLow20
Limestone CountyLow18
Robertson CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Falls County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Falls County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Falls County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Falls County had?

Falls County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Falls County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 180th 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 Falls 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 Falls County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Falls County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on May 23, 2024 near Belvins. The weather service has also logged 96 hail reports and 49 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Falls County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Falls County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, 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.