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Grayson County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
52nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$43Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grayson County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $43 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $314 per resident. Since 1981 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (281 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $18 million on 743 claims here, including $6.2 million for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Grayson County

$19 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$9.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate79.5
$19M
TornadoHigh92.9
$9M
Cold waveModerate82.2
$4M
Heat waveModerate92.7
$4M
HailModerate93.4
$2M
Ice stormHigh91.6
$1M
WildfireLow86.0
$775K
EarthquakeLow66.7
$662K
Strong windModerate55.7
$644K
LightningLow56.2
$291K
DroughtLow47.7
$125K
HurricaneVery Low53.3
$103K
Winter weatherLow57.0
$82K
LandslideVery Low60.9
$3K

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Grayson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Fire4
Hurricane4
Severe Ice Storm3
Flood1
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
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 18
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 23, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,081 storm reports in Grayson County since 1952, with 11 deaths and 87 injuries and about $67.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 6, 1955.

72tornadoes
486hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
388damaging thunderstorm winds
118floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 6, 1955F3–27 / 1
May 9, 2006F3Pilot Grove4 / 1
Apr 2, 1957F3–2 / 0
Apr 18, 1957F3–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1971F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 18, 2007Flash FloodCollinsville$20M
Apr 29, 1995Hail–$20M
Apr 6, 2003HailSherman$10M
Apr 6, 1955Tornado–$3M
Apr 29, 2009FloodLake Texhoma East$2M
Dec 8, 2008TornadoDenison Mckeon Arpt$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 10, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grayson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 50 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 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 Grayson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (281 policies)
16.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$18.3 millionpaid on 743 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $6.2 million 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 Grayson County

$248,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.9%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; 62,132 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
Collin CountyHigh17
Denton CountyHigh21
Bryan County, OKLow23
Cooke CountyLow20
Fannin CountyLow18
Marshall County, OKLow16
Love County, OKVery Low24

Cities in Grayson County

Common questions about Grayson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grayson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grayson County, about $19 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $9.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Grayson County had?

Grayson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1981, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Grayson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 52nd 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 Grayson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Grayson 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 Grayson County had?

NOAA records list 72 tornadoes in Grayson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 6, 1955. The weather service has also logged 486 hail reports and 118 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grayson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Grayson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 50 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.