Hudspeth County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hudspeth County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 243rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $1.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $522 per resident. Since 1966 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 5 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 Hudspeth County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- 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 | 81.2 | $761K | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.6 | $597K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.9 | $86K | ||
| Hail | 19.6 | $53K | ||
| Lightning | 19.1 | $50K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.4 | $32K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.1 | $27K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.0 | $23K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.7 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.0 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 25.5 | $8K | ||
| Tornado | 2.1 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 7.4 | $554 | ||
| Avalanche | 29.1 | $78 | ||
| Landslide | 12.2 | $30 |
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 moderate 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 Hudspeth 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 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 119 storm reports in Hudspeth County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $2.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 12, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1997 | F1 | Sierra Blanca | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 10, 1962 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2017 | Hail | Sierra Blanca | $2M |
| Aug 7, 2004 | Flash Flood | Dell City | $50K |
| May 16, 2007 | Flash Flood | Sierra Blanca | $50K |
| Aug 4, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dell City Muni Arpt | $50K |
| Aug 7, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dell City | $30K |
| Jun 21, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 2025. 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 1929, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hudspeth County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 50 mph about 56 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 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 Hudspeth 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 Hudspeth 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; 1,133 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 |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 13 | |
| Otero County, NM | 22 | |
| Presidio County | 12 | |
| Culberson County | 10 | |
| Jeff Davis County | 16 |
Common questions about Hudspeth County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hudspeth County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hudspeth County, about $761,335 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $596,912.
How many federal disasters has Hudspeth County had?
Hudspeth County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Hudspeth County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 243rd 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 Hudspeth County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Hudspeth 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 Hudspeth County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Hudspeth County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 12, 1974. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 21 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Hudspeth County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Hudspeth County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 50 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.