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Kendall County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
90th of 254highest risk in Texas
$26Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 38homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Kendall County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 90th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $591 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance (379 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.5 million on 253 claims here.

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

Top risks in Kendall County

$17 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.1
$17M
TornadoModerate73.6
$3M
HailModerate87.3
$2M
Cold waveLow50.9
$1M
Strong windModerate64.3
$861K
WildfireLow85.5
$753K
LightningModerate77.5
$684K
DroughtModerate72.8
$642K
Heat waveLow46.2
$325K
Winter weatherModerate76.3
$184K
HurricaneVery Low47.8
$63K
Ice stormVery Low14.6
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low9.2
$9K
LandslideVery Low52.5
$2K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Fire5
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Oct 2, 2007Tropical Storm ErinMajor disaster
Show all 22
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2000Tx - Frost Fire - 09/08/00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Aug 3, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 282 storm reports in Kendall County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 24 injuries and about $19.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 6, 1969.

21tornadoes
128hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
39damaging thunderstorm winds
94floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1969F3–0 / 0
Mar 30, 1976F2–0 / 0
Mar 4, 1983F2–1 / 0
May 15, 1950F2–0 / 0
Mar 31, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Jul 4, 2025Flash FloodComfort$5M
Jul 15, 2026Flash FloodBoerne$3M
Mar 30, 1976Tornado–$3M
Jul 23, 2023Thunderstorm WindWelfare$1M
Aug 16, 2007Flash FloodBoerne$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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 1886, 2 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Kendall County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 95 mph about 63 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2010most recent: Hermine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph62 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph63 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 Kendall County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (379 policies)
31.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.5 millionpaid on 253 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $1.3 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 Kendall County

$512,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2002median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
17%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 19,213 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
Bexar CountyHigh30
Comal CountyModerate26
Kerr CountyLow19
Gillespie CountyLow18
Bandera CountyLow16
Blanco CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Kendall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kendall County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Kendall County, about $17 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Kendall County had?

Kendall County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Kendall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 90th 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 Kendall County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 38 homes in Kendall 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 Kendall County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Kendall County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 6, 1969. The weather service has also logged 128 hail reports and 94 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Kendall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Kendall County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 95 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.