Garza County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 96.8 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 79.1 | $542K | ||
| Tornado | 39.2 | $535K | ||
| Wildfire | 83.5 | $388K | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.3 | $353K | ||
| Strong wind | 42.6 | $287K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.3 | $149K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.6 | $38K | ||
| Winter weather | 34.5 | $24K | ||
| Ice storm | 27.2 | $17K | ||
| Lightning | 7.6 | $15K | ||
| Earthquake | 8.4 | $5K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.5 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 7.1 | $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
Most recent
Show all 15
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 1961 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1968 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2009 | EF0 | Justiceburg | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2015 | Flood | Southland | $50M |
| Jul 4, 2010 | Flash Flood | Southland | $2M |
| Aug 27, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Post | $725K |
| Jul 7, 2015 | Flood | Southland | $500K |
| Jun 4, 2002 | Hail | Post | $400K |
| May 5, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Justiceburg | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 53 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 53 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Lubbock County | 18 | |
| Scurry County | 13 | |
| Lynn County | 16 | |
| Crosby County | 14 | |
| Dickens County | 14 | |
| Kent County | 13 | |
| Borden County | 13 |
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.