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Liberty County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
55th of 254highest risk in Texas
$33Mexpected losses a year
36federal declarations
1 in 17homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Liberty County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $356 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,918 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $109 million on 3,306 claims here, including $39 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Liberty County

$9.9 million 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.
$8.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Hurricane

Moderate
$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow69.0
$10M
TornadoHigh94.5
$9M
HurricaneModerate90.2
$6M
Cold waveModerate78.9
$3M
LightningVery High96.6
$2M
Heat waveModerate83.8
$1M
DroughtModerate77.3
$622K
WildfireLow83.6
$477K
Ice stormModerate78.5
$286K
Strong windLow33.1
$259K
HailLow42.8
$157K
EarthquakeVery Low30.4
$63K
Winter weatherLow34.3
$29K
Coastal floodingVery Low20.6
$323
LandslideVery Low18.7
$79

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 Liberty County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood10
Hurricane10
Severe Storm8
Fire5
Severe Ice Storm2
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Oct 4, 2019Tropical Storm ImeldaMajor disaster
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 36
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Nov 5, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 4, 2000Tx - Stanley Mainline Fire - 09/04/00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1989Tropical Storm AllisonMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1983Hurricane AliciaMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 353 storm reports in Liberty County since 1957, with 1 death and 42 injuries and about $120 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on November 21, 1992.

70tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 4 inches
138damaging thunderstorm winds
57floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 21, 1992F4–1 / 0
Nov 21, 1992F3–1 / 0
Oct 22, 1957F3–1 / 0
Dec 13, 1977F3–5 / 0
Sep 12, 1961F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 19, 2019Flash FloodMoss Bluff$95M
May 19, 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$10M
May 20, 1983Tornado–$3M
May 20, 1983Tornado–$3M
Nov 21, 1992Tornado–$3M
May 18, 1995TornadoLiberty$760K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 1863, 19 hurricanes and 25 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Liberty County, 23 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 120 mph about 63 miles away.

19hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
25tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 110 mph65 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaCategory 2, 105 mph64 mi
Jul 27, 1943UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph65 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Sep 14, 2021NicholasTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 110 mph65 mi
Aug 5, 2008EdouardTropical storm, 65 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 2007HumbertoCategory 1, 90 mph53 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 Liberty County

Check your address flood zone ›
5.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,918 policies)
19.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$109 millionpaid on 3,306 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $39.3 million 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 Liberty County

$181,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
33.3%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; 36,121 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
Harris CountyVery High39
Montgomery CountyHigh36
Jefferson CountyHigh28
Hardin CountyLow29
Polk CountyLow27
Chambers CountyLow20
San Jacinto CountyLow30

Common questions about Liberty County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Liberty County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Liberty County, about $9.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Liberty County had?

Liberty County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Liberty County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 55th 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 Liberty County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 17 homes in Liberty 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 Liberty County had?

NOAA records list 70 tornadoes in Liberty County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on November 21, 1992. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 57 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Liberty County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 25 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Liberty County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 120 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.