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Goliad County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
186th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 67homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Goliad County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 186th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $900 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $423,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Goliad County

Hurricane

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$1.9 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.
$431,838 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
HurricaneModerate85.0
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low19.9
$2M
TornadoLow31.0
$432K
Cold waveLow29.5
$320K
DroughtLow61.1
$244K
Heat waveVery Low29.5
$105K
HailVery Low18.6
$53K
WildfireVery Low55.7
$52K
LightningVery Low17.6
$48K
Strong windVery Low7.0
$39K
Ice stormVery Low16.9
$9K
EarthquakeVery Low7.9
$6K
Winter weatherVery Low8.1
$5K
LandslideVery Low8.6
$16

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 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 Goliad County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane11
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 178 storm reports in Goliad County since 1962, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on October 22, 1981.

20tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 3 inches
42damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 22, 1981F1–0 / 0
Nov 8, 1963F1–0 / 0
Nov 15, 2001F1Goliad0 / 0
Apr 18, 1976F0–0 / 0
Aug 30, 1981F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 6, 2021Heavy RainAngel City$835K
Apr 15, 1994HailColeto Creek$550K
Apr 15, 1994HailFannin$550K
Oct 22, 1981Tornado–$250K
Jun 4, 2017HailGoliad$250K
Aug 11, 2004LightningCologne$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 1, 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, 16 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Goliad County, 15 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 150 mph about 64 miles away.

16hurricanes
7major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2020most recent: Beta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph64 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 4, 140 mph63 mi
Aug 3, 1970CeliaCategory 4, 140 mph63 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 1945UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph65 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 2020BetaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph63 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi
Sep 7, 2002FayTropical storm, 55 mph63 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 Goliad County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (43 policies)
12.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$423,204paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $189,475 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 Goliad County

$192,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.7%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; 3,547 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
Victoria CountyModerate26
Bee CountyLow21
DeWitt CountyModerate20
Karnes CountyLow14
Refugio CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Goliad County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Goliad County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Goliad County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Goliad County had?

Goliad County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Goliad County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 186th 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 Goliad County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Goliad 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 Goliad County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Goliad County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on October 22, 1981. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 38 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Goliad County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 16 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Goliad County, including 7 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 150 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.