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Kent County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
250th of 254highest risk in Texas
$1Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Kent County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 250th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $1.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,832 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No 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 Kent County

Drought

Moderate
$775,349 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 80 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Low
$144,809 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$135,471 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
DroughtModerate77.4
$775K
HailLow35.4
$145K
Inland floodingVery Low0.5
$135K
WildfireLow66.5
$130K
Strong windVery Low8.7
$62K
TornadoVery Low9.7
$60K
Cold waveVery Low6.6
$34K
Heat waveVery Low5.1
$6K
Ice stormVery Low5.8
$3K
Winter weatherVery Low4.2
$3K
LightningVery Low0.6
$2K
HurricaneVery Low8.2
$1K
EarthquakeVery Low1.2
$1K
LandslideVery Low24.9
$188

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 moderate 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 Kent County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 15, 2011Cooper Mountain Ranch FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 13
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 238 storm reports in Kent County since 1956 and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 12, 2005 near Clairemont.

24tornadoes
153hail reports, largest 4 inches
49damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 12, 2005F2Clairemont0 / 0
Apr 24, 1991F2–0 / 0
Jul 9, 1979F1–0 / 0
Mar 23, 1973F1–0 / 0
May 26, 1967F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 2013Thunderstorm WindGirard$300K
Apr 5, 2019Thunderstorm WindJayton$300K
Jul 9, 1979Tornado–$250K
Jun 12, 2005TornadoClairemont$165K
May 26, 2004HailClairemont$110K
Jun 4, 2001HailJayton$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 26, 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, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Kent County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 40 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 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 Kent County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 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 Kent County

$122,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.2%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; 523 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
Scurry CountyVery Low13
Garza CountyVery Low15
Crosby CountyVery Low14
Fisher CountyVery Low14
Dickens CountyVery Low14
Stonewall CountyVery Low14
King CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Kent County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kent County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Kent County, about $775,349 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $144,809.

How many federal disasters has Kent County had?

Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Kent County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 250th 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 Kent County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Kent County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Kent County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 12, 2005 near Clairemont. The weather service has also logged 153 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Kent County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Kent County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 40 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.