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Hill County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
73rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$25Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Hill County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $690 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (71 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $463,000 on 31 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hill County

$10.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.5 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.
$4.6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh95.6
$10M
TornadoModerate89.8
$5M
Inland floodingLow45.9
$5M
Heat waveLow75.7
$936K
DroughtModerate82.1
$821K
HailModerate79.0
$650K
Strong windModerate58.1
$541K
LightningModerate78.8
$534K
WildfireLow82.2
$401K
HurricaneLow65.9
$302K
Ice stormModerate77.4
$265K
EarthquakeVery Low30.8
$65K
Winter weatherVery Low13.6
$9K
LandslideLow75.3
$7K

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 Hill County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Fire5
Flood4
Hurricane4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 26, 2000Tx - Live Oak Loop FireFire management
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
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1973High Winds, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1968Heavy Rains & 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 596 storm reports in Hill County since 1955, with 13 deaths and 176 injuries and about $14.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 31, 1959.

61tornadoes
310hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
159damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 31, 1959F4–31 / 6
Mar 10, 1973F4–75 / 6
May 26, 1976F4–0 / 0
May 23, 1971F3–49 / 1
May 9, 1981F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 26, 1976Tornado–$3M
May 9, 1981Tornado–$3M
Mar 25, 2000HailHillsboro$1M
Sep 8, 2010Flash FloodBlum$1M
Apr 3, 2012HailItasca$950K
Jun 11, 2003LightningHillsboro$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 1871, 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hill County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 70 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
1983most recent: Alicia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Aug 29, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Jul 29, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 18, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 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 Hill County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (71 policies)
16%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$462,578paid on 31 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $156,149 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 Hill County

$179,200median 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
16.3%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; 16,434 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
McLennan CountyModerate20
Ellis CountyModerate21
Johnson CountyModerate16
Navarro CountyLow24
Limestone CountyLow18
Bosque CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Hill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hill County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Hill County, about $10.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Hill County had?

Hill County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Hill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 73rd 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 Hill County?

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

NOAA records list 61 tornadoes in Hill County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 31, 1959. The weather service has also logged 310 hail reports and 62 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hill County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hill 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.