Irion County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 83.1 | $440K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.9 | $365K | ||
| Drought | 59.4 | $206K | ||
| Hail | 33.1 | $103K | ||
| Strong wind | 15.4 | $98K | ||
| Tornado | 10.9 | $59K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.0 | $30K | ||
| Heat wave | 14.0 | $24K | ||
| Lightning | 4.7 | $12K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.9 | $6K | ||
| Hurricane | 9.2 | $1K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.9 | $670 | ||
| Ice storm | 1.3 | $424 | ||
| Landslide | 4.1 | $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
Most recent
Show all 11
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 1964 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1996 | F1 | Mertzon | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mertzon | $10M |
| May 4, 2006 | Hail | Mertzon | $2M |
| Aug 29, 1996 | Flash Flood | Mertzon | $500K |
| Aug 28, 1996 | Flash Flood | Mertzon | $50K |
| Jun 3, 2007 | Hail | Sherwood | $19K |
| May 24, 1999 | Flash Flood | Mertzon | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 51 mi |
| Jun 27, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 51 mi |
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 27, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Green County | 19 | |
| Reagan County | 11 | |
| Crockett County | 14 | |
| Schleicher County | 14 |
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.