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Freestone County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
121st of 254highest risk in Texas
$13Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Freestone County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 121st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $689 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $587,000 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 Freestone County

$5 million 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.
$4.3 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
$2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh90.1
$5M
Inland floodingLow47.0
$4M
TornadoModerate73.1
$2M
HurricaneLow71.5
$485K
DroughtModerate69.5
$356K
Heat waveLow51.7
$286K
Strong windLow38.3
$277K
LightningModerate60.7
$240K
Ice stormModerate69.3
$149K
WildfireLow70.1
$123K
HailLow36.3
$109K
EarthquakeVery Low29.8
$52K
Winter weatherLow36.9
$28K
LandslideVery Low28.5
$193

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 Freestone County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane4
Flood3
Severe Storm3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 20, 2013Severe 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 17
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 240 storm reports in Freestone County since 1955, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $3.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 24, 1957.

15tornadoes
95hail reports, largest 4 inches
72damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 24, 1957F2–0 / 0
Apr 24, 1957F1–0 / 0
Dec 24, 2024EF0Freestone0 / 0
Apr 28, 2024EF0Dew0 / 0
May 25, 2015EF0Kirvin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2009Flash FloodWortham$2M
Jun 21, 2023Thunderstorm WindFairfield$500K
Oct 24, 2015Flash FloodDonie$250K
Oct 30, 2013Flash FloodDonie$100K
Apr 9, 2024Flash FloodStewards Mill$100K
Apr 25, 2011HailFairfield$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 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, 0 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Freestone County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 70 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Jun 23, 1921UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Aug 18, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Jun 4, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 28, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jul 29, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 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 Freestone County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$587,394paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $237,235 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 Freestone County

$168,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
40%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; 9,123 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
Henderson CountyModerate22
Anderson CountyLow28
Navarro CountyLow24
Limestone CountyLow18
Leon CountyLow27

Common questions about Freestone County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Freestone County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Freestone County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Freestone County had?

Freestone County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Freestone County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 121st 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 Freestone County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Freestone 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 Freestone County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Freestone County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 24, 1957. The weather service has also logged 95 hail reports and 55 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Freestone County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Freestone County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 70 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.