King County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
King County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 253rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $401,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,531 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 15 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 King County
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 0.6 | $115K | ||
| Hail | 34.9 | $92K | ||
| Drought | 46.3 | $72K | ||
| Wildfire | 55.9 | $42K | ||
| Strong wind | 8.2 | $38K | ||
| Tornado | 7.5 | $25K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.7 | $8K | ||
| Heat wave | 4.1 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.5 | $1K | ||
| Ice storm | 4.3 | $1K | ||
| Lightning | 0.3 | $951 | ||
| Winter weather | 2.4 | $868 | ||
| Earthquake | 1.3 | $794 | ||
| Landslide | 18.5 | $62 |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included King County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 213 storm reports in King County since 1955 and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 15, 1989.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1989 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1987 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 1965 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Guthrie | $350K |
| Jul 1, 2004 | Hail | Grow | $125K |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Guthrie | $100K |
| May 24, 2002 | Hail | Guthrie | $50K |
| Jul 1, 2004 | Hail | Grow | $50K |
| Apr 30, 2000 | Hail | Grow | $30K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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.
Flood insurance in King County
Check your address flood zone ›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 King County
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; 189 housing units.
Compare in Texas
All 254 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Haskell County | 15 | |
| Knox County | 15 | |
| Dickens County | 14 | |
| Cottle County | 17 | |
| Stonewall County | 14 | |
| Foard County | 15 | |
| Motley County | 17 | |
| Kent County | 13 |
Common questions about King County
What is the biggest natural hazard in King County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in King County, about $114,641 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $92,130.
How many federal disasters has King County had?
King County has been included in 15 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 King County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 253rd 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 King 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 King County had?
NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in King County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 15, 1989. The weather service has also logged 123 hail reports and 3 floods here.
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.