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Garza County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
192nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$5Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Garza County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 192nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $814 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Garza County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 75 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$542,180 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$534,920 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
DroughtHigh96.8
$2M
HailModerate79.1
$542K
TornadoLow39.2
$535K
WildfireLow83.5
$388K
Inland floodingVery Low3.3
$353K
Strong windLow42.6
$287K
Cold waveVery Low20.3
$149K
Heat waveVery Low19.6
$38K
Winter weatherLow34.5
$24K
Ice stormLow27.2
$17K
LightningVery Low7.6
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low8.4
$5K
HurricaneVery Low11.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low7.1
$9

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 Garza County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1

Most recent

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
Aug 3, 2010Hurricane AlexMajor 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 15
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor 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 366 storm reports in Garza County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $56.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 5, 1961.

25tornadoes
188hail reports, largest 5 inches
121damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 1961F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1962F2–0 / 0
May 31, 1968F1–0 / 0
May 16, 1955F1–0 / 0
Apr 16, 2009EF0Justiceburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 2015FloodSouthland$50M
Jul 4, 2010Flash FloodSouthland$2M
Aug 27, 2005Thunderstorm WindPost$725K
Jul 7, 2015FloodSouthland$500K
Jun 4, 2002HailPost$400K
May 5, 2006Thunderstorm WindJusticeburg$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Garza County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 35 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 35 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 35 mph53 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 Garza County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11,853paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $11,853 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 Garza County

$77,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%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; 2,190 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
Lubbock CountyHigh18
Scurry CountyVery Low13
Lynn CountyVery Low16
Crosby CountyVery Low14
Dickens CountyVery Low14
Kent CountyVery Low13
Borden CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Garza County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Garza County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Garza County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $542,180.

How many federal disasters has Garza County had?

Garza County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Garza County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 192nd 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 Garza County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Garza County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 5, 1961. The weather service has also logged 188 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Garza County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Garza County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 35 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.