Hansford County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hansford County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 144th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,262 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Hansford County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 98.9 | $7M | ||
| Cold wave | 77.8 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 36.6 | $671K | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.9 | $548K | ||
| Hail | 67.7 | $460K | ||
| Strong wind | 25.0 | $215K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.6 | $154K | ||
| Ice storm | 61.0 | $127K | ||
| Winter weather | 70.0 | $118K | ||
| Lightning | 31.5 | $105K | ||
| Earthquake | 27.3 | $51K | ||
| Heat wave | 10.6 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 1.4 | $1 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hansford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1960
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 499 storm reports in Hansford County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 19, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1982 | F4 | – | 5 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1971 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 25, 1987 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2001 | F2 | Spearman | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 31, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 10, 2001 | Tornado | Spearman | $750K |
| Jun 5, 2003 | Tornado | Spearman | $600K |
| Jun 5, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Spearman | $550K |
| Jun 4, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Hansford 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 Hansford 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; 2,275 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Texas County, OK | 19 | |
| Moore County | 13 | |
| Hutchinson County | 17 | |
| Ochiltree County | 12 | |
| Sherman County | 10 | |
| Roberts County | 12 |
Common questions about Hansford County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hansford County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hansford County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Hansford County had?
Hansford County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Hansford County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 144th 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 Hansford County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hansford 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 Hansford County had?
NOAA records list 69 tornadoes in Hansford County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 19, 1982. The weather service has also logged 298 hail reports and 11 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.