Hartley County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hartley County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 67% of US counties. It ranks 163rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,602 per resident. Since 1998 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 Hartley 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 98.1 | $6M | ||
| Cold wave | 76.7 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 64.9 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.1 | $960K | ||
| Hail | 70.1 | $727K | ||
| Tornado | 26.5 | $527K | ||
| Wildfire | 71.1 | $246K | ||
| Winter weather | 71.5 | $181K | ||
| Lightning | 35.6 | $179K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.9 | $59K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.4 | $22K | ||
| Heat wave | 6.8 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 2.5 | $4 |
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 very low 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 Hartley 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 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 498 storm reports in Hartley County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $496,160 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 8, 1971.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1989 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 2007 | EF1 | Channing | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 14, 1968 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hartley | $180K |
| Jun 18, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hartley | $85K |
| May 15, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dalhart | $60K |
| Jun 28, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hartley | $50K |
| Sep 9, 2003 | Flash Flood | Channing | $15K |
| Aug 4, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Channing | $15K |
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 Hartley 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 Hartley 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; 1,814 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Moore County | 13 | |
| Quay County, NM | 5 | |
| Dallam County | 9 | |
| Union County, NM | 5 | |
| Sherman County | 10 | |
| Oldham County | 11 |
Common questions about Hartley County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hartley County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hartley County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Hartley County had?
Hartley County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Hartley County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 163rd 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 Hartley County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hartley 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 Hartley County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Hartley County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 8, 1971. The weather service has also logged 295 hail reports and 9 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.