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Johnson County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
29th of 254highest risk in Texas
$71Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Johnson County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $71 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $393 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (510 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.9 million on 333 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Johnson County

$28 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$23.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh98.1
$28M
Inland floodingModerate80.9
$23M
Cold waveModerate88.4
$7M
Heat waveModerate92.6
$4M
WildfireModerate94.4
$3M
HailModerate85.9
$1M
Strong windModerate77.9
$1M
LightningModerate76.2
$709K
Ice stormModerate81.1
$507K
EarthquakeVery Low51.0
$330K
HurricaneVery Low53.5
$120K
DroughtLow37.5
$60K
Winter weatherLow39.1
$50K
LandslideVery Low15.1
$72

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire5
Severe Storm4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood1
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 19, 2006Huntington Brook FireFire management
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 5, 2001Tx - Alsbury Fire - 08/29/00Fire management
Show all 16
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 909 storm reports in Johnson County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 45 injuries and about $254 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 26, 1976.

110tornadoes
376hail reports, largest 5 inches
292damaging thunderstorm winds
119floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 26, 1976F4–0 / 0
May 15, 2013EF3Lake Pat Cleburne7 / 0
Mar 26, 1961F3–0 / 0
May 26, 1976F3–0 / 0
Apr 23, 1973F3–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 2013TornadoLake Pat Cleburne$124M
Sep 13, 1993TornadoLake Pat Cleburne$50M
May 16, 1989Tornado–$25M
Apr 10, 2008TornadoLillian$25M
Apr 23, 2003Thunderstorm WindLillian$4M
May 26, 1976Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 7, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 65 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1983most recent: Alicia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Aug 19, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 19, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (510 policies)
24%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.9 millionpaid on 333 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $1.7 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 Johnson County

$285,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
25%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.4%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; 70,796 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
Tarrant CountyHigh25
Ellis CountyModerate21
Parker CountyModerate23
Hood CountyLow19
Hill CountyLow23
Bosque CountyVery Low23
Somervell CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $28 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $23.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 29th 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 Johnson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?

NOAA records list 110 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 26, 1976. The weather service has also logged 376 hail reports and 119 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Johnson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 65 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.