Hamilton County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hamilton County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 206th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $597 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 5 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 Hamilton County
- 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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 17.1 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 46.6 | $981K | ||
| Wildfire | 84.9 | $607K | ||
| Cold wave | 39.6 | $579K | ||
| Hail | 53.5 | $272K | ||
| Strong wind | 20.3 | $165K | ||
| Drought | 50.3 | $132K | ||
| Lightning | 34.7 | $117K | ||
| Heat wave | 29.1 | $113K | ||
| Hurricane | 46.9 | $49K | ||
| Winter weather | 32.0 | $29K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.8 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.6 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 9.1 | $20 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hamilton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
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 399 storm reports in Hamilton County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $16.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1979 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1991 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1991 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 2015 | EF1 | Shive | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1954 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1994 | Hail | – | $5M |
| Feb 20, 1997 | Flash Flood | Hamilton | $2M |
| Jun 26, 2007 | Flash Flood | Hico | $2M |
| Jun 26, 2007 | Flash Flood | Hamilton | $2M |
| Jun 27, 2007 | Flash Flood | Hamilton | $600K |
| Jul 8, 2007 | Flash Flood | Carlton | $600K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 6, 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 1897, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hamilton County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 70 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 13, 1897 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 50 mi |
| Jun 27, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 27, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 13, 1897 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 50 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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; 4,372 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coryell County | 21 | |
| Erath County | 16 | |
| Lampasas County | 17 | |
| Bosque County | 23 | |
| Comanche County | 17 | |
| Mills County | 15 |
Common questions about Hamilton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hamilton County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hamilton County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $981,282.
How many federal disasters has Hamilton County had?
Hamilton County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in July 2025.
Is Hamilton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 206th 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 Hamilton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County had?
NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Hamilton County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1979. The weather service has also logged 204 hail reports and 44 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Hamilton County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hamilton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 70 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.