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Kinney County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
244th of 254highest risk in Texas
$1Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Kinney County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 244th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $1.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $415 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 14 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 Kinney County

$527,451 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$373,664 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 134 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Low
$119,196 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 floodingVery Low6.0
$527K
DroughtModerate72.7
$374K
HailLow42.3
$119K
Cold waveVery Low14.4
$89K
Heat waveVery Low24.8
$58K
TornadoVery Low11.8
$55K
LightningVery Low15.7
$33K
HurricaneVery Low40.8
$19K
Strong windVery Low3.7
$13K
Winter weatherVery Low11.2
$5K
WildfireVery Low15.2
$3K
EarthquakeVery Low1.7
$1K
Ice stormVery Low0.8
$219
LandslideVery Low4.5
$4

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire3
Hurricane3
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Freezing1
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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 14
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jan 9, 1990Severe FreezeMajor disaster

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 215 storm reports in Kinney County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $12 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 16, 1989.

14tornadoes
91hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
45damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 16, 1989F4–0 / 0
Jun 26, 1970F3–0 / 0
May 11, 1982F1–0 / 0
May 15, 1980F1–0 / 0
Apr 29, 1994F0Ft Clark Springs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1993HailBrackettville$5M
Jul 16, 2026Flash FloodStandart$3M
May 16, 1989Tornado–$3M
May 26, 2001Thunderstorm WindBrackettville$270K
Jun 26, 1970Tornado–$250K
May 11, 1982Tornado–$250K

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 1851, 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Kinney County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Celia (1970), with top winds near 70 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2003most recent: Claudette

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Jul 26, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Jun 26, 1954AliceTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jul 26, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 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 Kinney County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$158,781paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $93,827 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 Kinney County

$82,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.5%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; 1,482 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
Maverick CountyLow14
Val Verde CountyLow15
Uvalde CountyLow19
Zavala CountyLow18
Edwards CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Kinney County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kinney County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Kinney County, about $527,451 a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $373,664.

How many federal disasters has Kinney County had?

Kinney County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Kinney County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 244th 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 Kinney County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Kinney 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 Kinney County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Kinney County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 16, 1989. The weather service has also logged 91 hail reports and 65 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Kinney County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Kinney County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Celia (1970), with winds near 70 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.