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Hale County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
58th of 254highest risk in Texas
$31Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Hale County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $953 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $34,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hale County

Hail

Very High
$16 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$4.3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailVery High99.4
$16M
Inland floodingLow43.4
$4M
TornadoModerate85.5
$4M
Cold waveModerate73.1
$2M
DroughtHigh92.9
$2M
Strong windHigh84.7
$1M
LightningModerate77.3
$507K
Winter weatherHigh92.1
$367K
WildfireLow77.7
$255K
Ice stormModerate67.2
$149K
EarthquakeVery Low42.3
$137K
Heat waveVery Low32.4
$121K
HurricaneVery Low39.8
$23K
LandslideVery Low2.4
$2

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 Hale County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Fire3
Hurricane3
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster
Show all 13
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 1970Tornadoes, Windstorms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 726 storm reports in Hale County since 1955, with 9 deaths and 158 injuries and about $384 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1965.

134tornadoes
341hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
206damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1965F4–76 / 4
Apr 17, 1970F4–47 / 2
Apr 15, 1973F3–26 / 2
Apr 21, 1957F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 2015HailHale Co Arpt$300M
Jun 2, 1965Tornado–$25M
Oct 10, 2007HailHalfway$13M
May 8, 1998HailPlainview$5M
Oct 10, 2007HailCotton Center$5M
Apr 17, 1970Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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.

Flood insurance in Hale County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (57 policies)
6.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$34,353paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $23,226 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 Hale County

$116,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 13,392 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
Hockley CountyLow14
Lamb CountyLow14
Castro CountyVery Low12
Swisher CountyVery Low13
Floyd CountyVery Low14
Crosby CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Hale County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hale County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Hale County, about $16 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Hale County had?

Hale County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Hale County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 58th 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 Hale County?

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

NOAA records list 134 tornadoes in Hale County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1965. The weather service has also logged 341 hail reports and 35 floods here.

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.