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Jackson County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
76th of 254highest risk in Texas
$24Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 15homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Jackson County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 76th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,603 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance (470 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 232 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 1994.

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

Top risks in Jackson County

$13.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$6.1 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 57 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneHigh94.0
$13M
Inland floodingLow55.3
$6M
DroughtModerate90.0
$1M
TornadoLow49.9
$984K
Cold waveLow57.0
$983K
Heat waveLow55.1
$378K
LightningLow51.8
$197K
Coastal floodingLow51.8
$124K
HailLow34.5
$114K
Strong windVery Low14.5
$93K
WildfireLow63.9
$89K
Ice stormLow52.2
$75K
EarthquakeVery Low17.1
$17K
Winter weatherVery Low17.2
$12K
LandslideVery Low10.1
$22

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Jackson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane12
Severe Storm2
Flood2
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 21
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Apr 12, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor 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 190 storm reports in Jackson County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 11, 1961.

43tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 11, 1961F3–3 / 0
Feb 9, 1966F3–0 / 0
Sep 20, 1967F3–3 / 0
Dec 24, 1975F3–0 / 0
Oct 1, 1991F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 21, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Sep 25, 2023Thunderstorm WindEdna$500K
Apr 22, 2026Thunderstorm WindCordele$400K
May 19, 1984Tornado–$250K
Oct 1, 1991Tornado–$250K
Sep 25, 2023TornadoEdna$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 22, 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, 24 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jackson County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 150 mph about 64 miles away.

24hurricanes
6major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph64 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 4, 145 mph62 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 3, 125 mph64 mi
Sep 23, 1941UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 1945UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylCategory 1, 90 mph43 mi
Sep 14, 2021NicholasCategory 1, 75 mph65 mi
Sep 21, 2020BetaTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 3, 125 mph64 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteCategory 1, 90 mph51 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 Jackson County

Check your address flood zone ›
6.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (470 policies)
18%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 232 flood claims since 1978
1994costliest year, with $1.2 million 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 Jackson County

$203,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14%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; 7,029 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
Victoria CountyModerate26
Wharton CountyModerate24
Matagorda CountyLow27
Colorado CountyLow18
Lavaca CountyLow17
Calhoun CountyLow26

Common questions about Jackson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?

Jackson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 76th 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 Jackson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 15 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 11, 1961. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 32 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Jackson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 24 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jackson County, including 6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 150 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.