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Leon County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
115th of 254highest risk in Texas
$15Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Leon County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 115th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $964 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 34 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 Leon County

$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$3.6 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.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 37 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh89.6
$5M
Inland floodingLow39.4
$4M
DroughtHigh97.7
$3M
TornadoLow61.1
$1M
HurricaneLow74.7
$717K
Strong windLow46.1
$368K
LightningModerate65.3
$313K
Heat waveLow49.9
$277K
HailVery Low29.7
$88K
WildfireVery Low57.5
$54K
Ice stormLow42.3
$45K
Winter weatherLow27.5
$20K
EarthquakeVery Low18.7
$19K
LandslideVery Low39.0
$460

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 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 Leon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Fire5
Flood4
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 27
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 20, 1987Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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 272 storm reports in Leon County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1984.

23tornadoes
88hail reports, largest 2 inches
107damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 11, 1984F2–3 / 0
Nov 15, 1987F2–0 / 0
May 11, 1953F2–0 / 0
Apr 13, 1967F2–0 / 0
Feb 11, 1984F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 11, 1984Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jun 21, 2023Thunderstorm WindBuffalo$1M
May 2, 1994Thunderstorm WindMarquez$500K
May 2, 1994TornadoMarquez$500K
Jul 14, 2007Flash FloodJewett$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 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 1871, 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Leon County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with top winds near 85 mph about 58 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 85 mph58 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 85 mph58 mi
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi
Jul 26, 1959DebraTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 4, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 50 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 Leon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (34 policies)
7.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$129,758paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $53,400 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 Leon County

$186,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
36.5%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; 9,067 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
Brazos CountyModerate17
Anderson CountyLow28
Limestone CountyLow18
Houston CountyLow26
Freestone CountyLow17
Robertson CountyVery Low16
Madison CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Leon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Leon County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Leon County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Leon County had?

Leon County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Leon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 115th 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 Leon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Leon 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 Leon County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Leon County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1984. The weather service has also logged 88 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Leon County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Leon County. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with winds near 85 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.