Jeff Davis County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jeff Davis County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 242nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $1.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $962 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 10 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 Jeff Davis 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 88.5 | $844K | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.9 | $833K | ||
| Heat wave | 20.0 | $48K | ||
| Hail | 13.9 | $35K | ||
| Lightning | 10.9 | $28K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.1 | $28K | ||
| Earthquake | 21.4 | $25K | ||
| Tornado | 6.5 | $23K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.7 | $21K | ||
| Strong wind | 4.1 | $19K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.5 | $12K | ||
| Drought | 20.4 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 9.0 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 40.0 | $506 | ||
| Avalanche | 39.8 | $198 |
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 Jeff Davis County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 180 storm reports in Jeff Davis County since 1954 and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 29, 1999 near Ft Davis.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 1999 | F1 | Ft Davis | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 1961 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 14, 1969 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1976 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 1996 | F0 | Ft Davis | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2021 | Flash Flood | Ft Davis | $1M |
| Sep 12, 2014 | Flash Flood | Ft Davis | $250K |
| Oct 6, 2004 | Hail | Valentine | $50K |
| Jun 17, 2019 | Hail | Ft Davis | $40K |
| May 17, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Davis | $30K |
| Aug 25, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Valentine | $20K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 1929, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jeff Davis County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 50 mph about 43 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 43 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 43 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 Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis 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; 1,531 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pecos County | 14 | |
| Reeves County | 11 | |
| Brewster County | 12 | |
| Presidio County | 12 | |
| Hudspeth County | 11 | |
| Culberson County | 10 |
Common questions about Jeff Davis County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jeff Davis County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Jeff Davis County, about $844,004 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $833,042.
How many federal disasters has Jeff Davis County had?
Jeff Davis County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Jeff Davis County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 242nd 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 Jeff Davis County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County had?
NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Jeff Davis County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 29, 1999 near Ft Davis. The weather service has also logged 109 hail reports and 27 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Jeff Davis County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Jeff Davis 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.