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Hamilton County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
206th of 254highest risk in Texas
$5Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.8 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.
$981,282 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$607,193 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 250 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.1
$2M
TornadoLow46.6
$981K
WildfireLow84.9
$607K
Cold waveLow39.6
$579K
HailLow53.5
$272K
Strong windLow20.3
$165K
DroughtLow50.3
$132K
LightningLow34.7
$117K
Heat waveVery Low29.1
$113K
HurricaneVery Low46.9
$49K
Winter weatherLow32.0
$29K
EarthquakeVery Low10.8
$9K
Ice stormVery Low14.6
$8K
LandslideVery Low9.1
$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

Fire4
Severe Storm3
Flood3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 10, 2009617 FireFire management
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 16
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

26tornadoes
204hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
124damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1979F2–3 / 0
Apr 28, 1991F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1991F1–0 / 0
May 10, 2015EF1Shive0 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 26, 1994Hail–$5M
Feb 20, 1997Flash FloodHamilton$2M
Jun 26, 2007Flash FloodHico$2M
Jun 26, 2007Flash FloodHamilton$2M
Jun 27, 2007Flash FloodHamilton$600K
Jul 8, 2007Flash FloodCarlton$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5,523paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $5,523 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 Hamilton County

$147,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.8%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; 4,372 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
Coryell CountyLow21
Erath CountyLow16
Lampasas CountyVery Low17
Bosque CountyVery Low23
Comanche CountyLow17
Mills CountyVery Low15

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.