Glasscock County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Glasscock County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 233rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $2.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,372 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No 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 Glasscock County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 91.4 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.9 | $332K | ||
| Hail | 49.6 | $232K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.1 | $124K | ||
| Wildfire | 62.0 | $88K | ||
| Tornado | 12.0 | $84K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.1 | $37K | ||
| Lightning | 2.6 | $8K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.6 | $6K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.8 | $6K | ||
| Hurricane | 18.1 | $5K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.1 | $2K | ||
| Ice storm | 0.3 | $219 | ||
| Landslide | 0.1 | $0 |
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 relatively moderate 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 Glasscock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Glasscock County since 1956, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $3.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 22, 2016 near Garden City.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2016 | EF3 | Garden City | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2016 | EF2 | Garden City | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2022 | EF2 | Garden City | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2017 | EF2 | St Lawrence | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2016 | EF2 | Lees | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2009 | Hail | St Lawrence | $2M |
| Mar 22, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $400K |
| Oct 10, 2004 | Hail | Garden City | $275K |
| Oct 8, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | St Lawrence | $160K |
| May 22, 2016 | Tornado | Garden City | $107K |
| Apr 12, 2015 | Lightning | Garden City | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 24, 2025. 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Glasscock County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 45 mph about 60 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 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 Glasscock 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 Glasscock 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; 513 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Midland County | 17 | |
| Howard County | 18 | |
| Martin County | 13 | |
| Reagan County | 11 | |
| Upton County | 11 | |
| Sterling County | 12 |
Common questions about Glasscock County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Glasscock County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Glasscock County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $331,798.
How many federal disasters has Glasscock County had?
Glasscock County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Glasscock County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 233rd 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 Glasscock 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 Glasscock County had?
NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Glasscock County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 22, 2016 near Garden City. The weather service has also logged 155 hail reports and 25 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Glasscock County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Glasscock County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 45 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.