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Frio County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
122nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$11Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Frio 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 122nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $582 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 17 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). Only 7 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 Frio County

$3.4 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 91 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.6
$3M
Cold waveModerate84.6
$3M
DroughtHigh93.4
$1M
Heat waveModerate84.8
$1M
TornadoLow53.4
$789K
HurricaneLow71.6
$395K
HailModerate74.3
$386K
LightningLow55.0
$160K
WildfireLow75.2
$150K
Strong windLow24.5
$132K
Ice stormLow40.5
$31K
Winter weatherLow33.6
$20K
EarthquakeVery Low10.9
$6K
LandslideVery Low7.3
$8

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 Frio County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane4
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Freezing1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 17
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2002Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jan 9, 1990Severe FreezeMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 225 storm reports in Frio County since 1959, with 5 deaths and 29 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 15, 1973.

16tornadoes
104hail reports, largest 4 inches
34damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 15, 1973F4–12 / 5
Aug 3, 1970F2–0 / 0
Aug 3, 1970F2–0 / 0
Nov 26, 1968F2–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1983F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 8, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$800K
Feb 10, 1998Thunderstorm WindMoore$110K
Mar 30, 1997HailPearsall$105K
Mar 24, 1994HailPearsall$100K
May 18, 1999Thunderstorm WindDilley$100K
May 15, 2023TornadoDilley Arpt$100K

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, 4 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Frio County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 100 mph about 64 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2010most recent: Hermine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph61 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph63 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Jul 31, 1978AmeliaTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1936UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 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 Frio County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$56,860paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $42,196 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 Frio County

$107,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.3%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; 6,393 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
Medina CountyLow18
Atascosa CountyLow19
Uvalde CountyLow19
Zavala CountyLow18
Dimmit CountyVery Low17
La Salle CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Frio County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Frio County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Frio County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Frio County had?

Frio County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Frio County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 122nd 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 Frio County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Frio 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 Frio County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Frio County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 15, 1973. The weather service has also logged 104 hail reports and 71 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Frio County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Frio County. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 100 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.