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Hockley County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
134th of 254highest risk in Texas
$14Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Hockley County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 134th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hail, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $644 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $132,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hockley County

Hail

High
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$2.4 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
HailHigh97.9
$5M
TornadoModerate74.6
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low24.8
$2M
DroughtHigh93.7
$2M
Strong windModerate71.8
$836K
Cold waveLow45.3
$651K
WildfireLow76.2
$238K
Winter weatherModerate75.8
$141K
Heat waveVery Low27.6
$96K
LightningLow29.2
$87K
Ice stormLow49.1
$67K
EarthquakeVery Low29.2
$56K
HurricaneVery Low26.0
$8K
LandslideVery Low1.6
$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 high 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 Hockley County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Flood1

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 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 14
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster
May 13, 1970Tornadoes, Windstorms & 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 652 storm reports in Hockley County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 27 injuries and about $198 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1970.

76tornadoes
317hail reports, largest 5 inches
200damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 17, 1970F4–4 / 0
Apr 17, 1970F4–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1957F4–4 / 0
May 10, 1991F3–0 / 0
Oct 17, 1965F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 29, 2024Thunderstorm WindLevelland$35M
Apr 17, 1970Tornado–$25M
Apr 17, 1970Tornado–$25M
May 25, 1999HailLevelland$21M
May 30, 2001HailAnton$20M
May 30, 2001HailAnton$15M

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 Hockley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$131,533paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $49,216 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 Hockley County

$127,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.6%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; 9,233 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
Lubbock CountyHigh18
Hale CountyLow13
Lamb CountyLow14
Terry CountyLow13
Yoakum CountyLow10
Bailey CountyVery Low14
Lynn CountyVery Low16
Cochran CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Hockley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hockley County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Hockley County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Hockley County had?

Hockley County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Hockley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 134th 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 Hockley County?

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

NOAA records list 76 tornadoes in Hockley County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1970. The weather service has also logged 317 hail reports and 48 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.