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La Salle County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
187th of 254highest risk in Texas
$4Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

La Salle County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 187th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $650 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $114,000 on 19 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in La Salle County

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$424,057 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate78.1
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low23.4
$2M
Heat waveLow66.2
$424K
TornadoVery Low24.5
$190K
HurricaneLow63.4
$162K
WildfireLow66.0
$70K
DroughtLow47.3
$67K
HailVery Low27.0
$56K
LightningVery Low14.1
$26K
Strong windVery Low6.6
$24K
Ice stormVery Low24.4
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low9.2
$5K
Winter weatherVery Low8.5
$3K
LandslideVery Low6.3
$6

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 La Salle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane5
Fire4
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

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
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 15, 2008322 FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 17
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 26, 2002Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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 165 storm reports in La Salle County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 5, 1955.

10tornadoes
67hail reports, largest 5 inches
49damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 1955F2–0 / 0
May 15, 1980F1–0 / 0
May 15, 2015EF1Woodward1 / 0
Nov 26, 1968F1–0 / 0
Aug 11, 1972F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 17, 2023HailCotulla$300K
Jun 5, 1955Tornado–$250K
May 15, 1980Tornado–$250K
Oct 13, 2013Flash FloodFowlerton$100K
May 15, 2015TornadoWoodward$100K
Sep 27, 2017Flash FloodGardendale$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 8, 2025. 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, 4 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of La Salle County, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 105 mph about 65 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2023most recent: Harold

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 105 mph65 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Sep 15, 1919UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph56 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Jul 25, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 22, 2023HaroldTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jul 24, 2008DollyTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 60 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1999BretTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 1, 75 mph64 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 La Salle County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$114,353paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $45,000 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 La Salle County

$97,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.7%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; 2,271 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
Webb CountyModerate21
Atascosa CountyLow19
Frio CountyLow17
Duval CountyLow19
Dimmit CountyVery Low17
McMullen CountyVery Low15

Common questions about La Salle County

What is the biggest natural hazard in La Salle County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in La Salle County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has La Salle County had?

La Salle County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is La Salle County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 187th 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 La Salle County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in La Salle 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 La Salle County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in La Salle County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 5, 1955. The weather service has also logged 67 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit La Salle County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of La Salle County. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 105 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.