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Irion County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
246th of 254highest risk in Texas
$1Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Irion 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 246th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $1.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $890 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 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 Irion County

$439,859 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 65 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$364,832 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$206,244 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 50 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireLow83.1
$440K
Inland floodingVery Low2.9
$365K
DroughtLow59.4
$206K
HailVery Low33.1
$103K
Strong windVery Low15.4
$98K
TornadoVery Low10.9
$59K
Cold waveVery Low7.0
$30K
Heat waveVery Low14.0
$24K
LightningVery Low4.7
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low10.9
$6K
HurricaneVery Low9.2
$1K
EarthquakeVery Low0.9
$670
Ice stormVery Low1.3
$424
LandslideVery Low4.1
$4

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 Irion County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Show all 11
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 196 storm reports in Irion County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $12.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 27, 1964.

15tornadoes
109hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
50damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 27, 1964F2–1 / 0
Jun 21, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1971F2–0 / 0
May 15, 1981F1–0 / 0
May 29, 1996F1Mertzon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 29, 1996Thunderstorm WindMertzon$10M
May 4, 2006HailMertzon$2M
Aug 29, 1996Flash FloodMertzon$500K
Aug 28, 1996Flash FloodMertzon$50K
Jun 3, 2007HailSherwood$19K
May 24, 1999Flash FloodMertzon$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 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 1851, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Irion County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 50 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Irion County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$13,410paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $13,410 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 Irion County

$204,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.3%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; 771 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
Tom Green CountyLow19
Reagan CountyVery Low11
Crockett CountyVery Low14
Schleicher CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Irion County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Irion County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Irion County, about $439,859 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $364,832.

How many federal disasters has Irion County had?

Irion County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Irion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 246th 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 Irion County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Irion 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 Irion County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Irion County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 27, 1964. The weather service has also logged 109 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Irion County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Irion County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, 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.