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Jeff Davis County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
242nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$844,004 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$833,042 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.

Heat wave

Very Low
$47,698 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireLow88.5
$844K
Inland floodingVery Low7.9
$833K
Heat waveVery Low20.0
$48K
HailVery Low13.9
$35K
LightningVery Low10.9
$28K
Ice stormLow32.1
$28K
EarthquakeVery Low21.4
$25K
TornadoVery Low6.5
$23K
Cold waveVery Low5.7
$21K
Strong windVery Low4.1
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low18.5
$12K
DroughtVery Low20.4
$3K
HurricaneVery Low9.0
$1K
LandslideVery Low40.0
$506
AvalancheVery Low39.8
$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

Fire10
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 2, 2018Mcdannald FireFire management
Apr 30, 2012Livermore Ranch Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2011Tejano Canyon FireFire management
Apr 9, 2011Rockhouse FireFire management
Jun 4, 2008Hughes Ranch FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Mar 12, 2008Arabella FireFire management
Show all 16
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

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.

12tornadoes
109hail reports, largest 4 inches
30damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 29, 1999F1Ft Davis0 / 0
May 23, 1961F0–0 / 0
May 14, 1969F0–0 / 0
Jul 15, 1976F0–0 / 0
Aug 26, 1996F0Ft Davis0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 20, 2021Flash FloodFt Davis$1M
Sep 12, 2014Flash FloodFt Davis$250K
Oct 6, 2004HailValentine$50K
Jun 17, 2019HailFt Davis$40K
May 17, 1998Thunderstorm WindFt Davis$30K
Aug 25, 2007Thunderstorm WindValentine$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph43 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph43 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 ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$226,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
26%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.1%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; 1,531 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
Pecos CountyVery Low14
Reeves CountyVery Low11
Brewster CountyVery Low12
Presidio CountyVery Low12
Hudspeth CountyVery Low11
Culberson CountyVery Low10

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.