Knox County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Knox County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 197th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,222 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Knox County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 97.5 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.3 | $461K | ||
| Hail | 71.6 | $365K | ||
| Strong wind | 52.5 | $362K | ||
| Tornado | 28.1 | $273K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.1 | $82K | ||
| Cold wave | 8.8 | $38K | ||
| Wildfire | 43.7 | $20K | ||
| Ice storm | 25.0 | $14K | ||
| Earthquake | 15.7 | $11K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.5 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.0 | $8K | ||
| Lightning | 1.8 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 18.2 | $57 |
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 Knox 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 477 storm reports in Knox County since 1953, with 5 deaths and 6 injuries and about $5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1953.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1953 | F4 | – | 5 / 5 |
| Apr 27, 2021 | EF3 | Truscott | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 2005 | F3 | Vera | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF2 | Vera | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 22, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1953 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 12, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Munday | $750K |
| Apr 29, 2025 | Tornado | Vera | $500K |
| Aug 22, 1969 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 29, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Munday | $250K |
| Apr 27, 2024 | Tornado | Knox City | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Knox 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 Knox 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; 1,804 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 | |
| Baylor County | 17 | |
| Throckmorton County | 18 | |
| Stonewall County | 14 | |
| Foard County | 15 | |
| King County | 15 |
Common questions about Knox County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Knox County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Knox County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $460,500.
How many federal disasters has Knox County had?
Knox County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Knox County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 197th 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 Knox County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Knox 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 Knox County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Knox County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1953. The weather service has also logged 267 hail reports and 20 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.