Hemphill County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hemphill County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 200th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,822 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (Smokehouse Creek Fire). No 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 Hemphill County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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 | 89.9 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 89.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 51.2 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 39.1 | $616K | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.6 | $547K | ||
| Strong wind | 43.4 | $437K | ||
| Hail | 34.6 | $139K | ||
| Ice storm | 59.1 | $125K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.4 | $53K | ||
| Lightning | 8.6 | $27K | ||
| Earthquake | 15.6 | $17K | ||
| Heat wave | 8.8 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 22.7 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 3.1 | $3 |
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 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 Hemphill County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
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 416 storm reports in Hemphill County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 12 injuries and about $4.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1995 near Allison.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1995 | F4 | Allison | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2007 | EF3 | Canadian | 1 / 1 |
| May 7, 1986 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2007 | Tornado | Canadian | $3M |
| Aug 2, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Canadian | $500K |
| May 7, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 13, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Canadian | $250K |
| Jun 13, 2003 | Flash Flood | Canadian | $125K |
| Jun 18, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Canadian | $120K |
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 Hemphill 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 Hemphill 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; 1,763 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gray County | 14 | |
| Wheeler County | 12 | |
| Ellis County, OK | 27 | |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 30 | |
| Lipscomb County | 9 | |
| Roberts County | 12 |
Common questions about Hemphill County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hemphill County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hemphill County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Hemphill County had?
Hemphill County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Smokehouse Creek Fire in February 2024.
Is Hemphill County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 200th 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 Hemphill County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Hemphill County had?
NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Hemphill County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1995 near Allison. The weather service has also logged 238 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.