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Kenedy County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
174th of 254highest risk in Texas
$7Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Kenedy County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 174th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, hurricanes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $19,799 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 2 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 Kenedy County

$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$573,170 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$86,547 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 100 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh92.1
$6M
HurricaneLow73.1
$573K
Inland floodingVery Low0.3
$87K
WildfireVery Low44.9
$25K
HailVery Low6.2
$13K
TornadoVery Low4.5
$11K
Heat waveVery Low6.5
$6K
Ice stormVery Low10.7
$4K
DroughtVery Low21.2
$4K
LightningVery Low1.2
$4K
Strong windVery Low1.2
$2K
EarthquakeVery Low0.5
$423
Winter weatherVery Low1.5
$279
LandslideVery Low0.5
$0

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 Kenedy County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane14
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

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
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Jul 24, 2008Hurricane DollyMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Show all 19
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 22, 1999Hurricane BretMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Aug 11, 1980Hurricane AllenMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 48 storm reports in Kenedy County since 1965 and about $36,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 5, 1965.

6tornadoes
22hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
17damaging thunderstorm winds
0floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 1965F3–0 / 0
Jun 26, 1973F0–0 / 0
Aug 9, 1980F0–0 / 0
Mar 14, 2000F0Norias0 / 0
May 10, 2006F0Sarita0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 30, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10K
Oct 31, 1995Hail–$10K
Oct 1, 1995Hail–$10K
May 10, 1999Thunderstorm WindNorias$3K
May 26, 1999Thunderstorm WindNorias$2K
Mar 27, 1999Thunderstorm WindSarita$1K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 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 1854, 21 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Kenedy County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Bret (1999), with top winds near 140 mph about 61 miles away.

21hurricanes
9major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2023most recent: Harold

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 22, 1999BretCategory 4, 140 mph61 mi
Aug 13, 1880UnnamedCategory 4, 135 mph63 mi
Aug 18, 1916UnnamedCategory 4, 130 mph60 mi
Sep 5, 1933UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph64 mi
Sep 20, 1967BeulahCategory 3, 120 mph64 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 3, 115 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 22, 2023HaroldTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 2021NicholasTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Jul 25, 2020HannaCategory 1, 90 mph49 mi
Jul 29, 2011DonTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jul 23, 2008DollyCategory 1, 90 mph60 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 Kenedy County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$59,328paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $59,328 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 Kenedy County

n/amedian home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11%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; 127 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
Hidalgo CountyHigh30
Kleberg CountyModerate22
Willacy CountyLow27
Brooks CountyLow21

Common questions about Kenedy County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kenedy County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Kenedy County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $573,170.

How many federal disasters has Kenedy County had?

Kenedy County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Kenedy County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 174th 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 Kenedy County?

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

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Kenedy County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 5, 1965. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 0 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Kenedy County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 21 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Kenedy County, including 9 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Bret (1999), with winds near 140 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.