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Hudspeth County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
243rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

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

Drought

Moderate
$761,335 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 121 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$596,912 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Very Low
$86,122 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtModerate81.2
$761K
Inland floodingVery Low5.6
$597K
Strong windVery Low13.9
$86K
HailVery Low19.6
$53K
LightningVery Low19.1
$50K
EarthquakeVery Low24.4
$32K
Heat waveVery Low15.1
$27K
Cold waveVery Low6.0
$23K
Ice stormVery Low20.7
$13K
Winter weatherVery Low18.0
$12K
WildfireVery Low25.5
$8K
TornadoVery Low2.1
$3K
HurricaneVery Low7.4
$554
AvalancheVery Low29.1
$78
LandslideVery Low12.2
$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

Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 15, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Show all 11
Sep 27, 1966Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

11tornadoes
53hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
32damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 12, 1974F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1974F1–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1997F1Sierra Blanca0 / 0
Jun 21, 1992F0–0 / 0
Sep 10, 1962F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 12, 2017HailSierra Blanca$2M
Aug 7, 2004Flash FloodDell City$50K
May 16, 2007Flash FloodSierra Blanca$50K
Aug 4, 2024Thunderstorm WindDell City Muni Arpt$50K
Aug 7, 2004Thunderstorm WindDell City$30K
Jun 21, 1992Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1929most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$245,314paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $245,314 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 Hudspeth County

$64,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
46.6%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; 1,133 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
El Paso CountyHigh13
Otero County, NMModerate22
Presidio CountyVery Low12
Culberson CountyVery Low10
Jeff Davis CountyVery Low16

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.