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Harrison County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
59th of 254highest risk in Texas
$29Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Harrison 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 59th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $419 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (169 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.6 million on 260 claims here, including $2.9 million for floods in 2016.

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

Top risks in Harrison County

$7.7 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.
$7.5 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.
$5 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 floodingLow63.5
$8M
TornadoHigh93.5
$8M
Cold waveHigh89.3
$5M
Heat waveModerate92.2
$3M
Ice stormVery High97.8
$2M
HailModerate89.6
$1M
Strong windModerate68.3
$702K
HurricaneLow69.8
$434K
LightningModerate67.0
$338K
DroughtModerate67.2
$335K
EarthquakeVery Low55.6
$281K
WildfireLow77.0
$236K
Winter weatherModerate71.7
$106K
LandslideVery Low43.3
$635

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 Harrison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Fire6
Flood4
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm3
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 25
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & 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 913 storm reports in Harrison County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $76.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on January 20, 2010 near Crossroads.

87tornadoes
324hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
400damaging thunderstorm winds
92floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 20, 2010EF3Crossroads0 / 0
Nov 4, 1959F3–0 / 0
Oct 22, 1972F3–2 / 0
Apr 23, 2000F2Hallsville0 / 0
Dec 23, 2009EF2Longview Hgts0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 1994Thunderstorm WindMarshall$50M
Apr 23, 2000TornadoHallsville$8M
May 3, 2000HailMarshall Northeast$8M
Jan 20, 2010TornadoCrossroads$2M
Apr 9, 2009TornadoHarleton$1M
Dec 23, 2009TornadoLongview Hgts$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 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 1865, 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Harrison County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 65 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2019most recent: Barry

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Oct 5, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 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 Harrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (169 policies)
9.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.6 millionpaid on 260 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $2.9 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 Harrison County

$180,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.6%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; 29,756 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
Caddo Parish, LAModerate32
Gregg CountyModerate20
Rusk CountyLow24
Upshur CountyLow21
Panola CountyLow21
Marion CountyVery Low20

Cities in Harrison County

Common questions about Harrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Harrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harrison County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Harrison County had?

Harrison County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Harrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 59th 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 Harrison County?

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

NOAA records list 87 tornadoes in Harrison County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on January 20, 2010 near Crossroads. The weather service has also logged 324 hail reports and 92 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Harrison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Harrison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with winds near 65 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.