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Limestone County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
110th of 254highest risk in Texas
$13Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Limestone County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 59% of US counties. It ranks 110th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $591 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (60 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.8 million on 291 claims here.

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

Top risks in Limestone County

$5 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.
$4.1 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh91.4
$5M
Inland floodingLow49.6
$4M
TornadoLow63.4
$1M
DroughtModerate84.8
$764K
HurricaneLow72.9
$489K
Heat waveLow57.5
$328K
HailLow65.5
$289K
Strong windLow40.8
$266K
LightningModerate64.1
$248K
WildfireLow73.2
$140K
Ice stormModerate60.8
$88K
EarthquakeVery Low29.9
$47K
Winter weatherLow31.3
$20K
LandslideVery Low22.3
$92

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 Limestone County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Fire4
Flood3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

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
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 18
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Mar 12, 1973High Winds, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 417 storm reports in Limestone County since 1950, with 2 deaths and 35 injuries and about $33.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 10, 1973.

31tornadoes
133hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
150damaging thunderstorm winds
100floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 10, 1973F4–0 / 0
Apr 27, 1990F3–0 / 0
Dec 29, 2006F2Kosse20 / 1
Apr 27, 1990F2–8 / 0
Jun 3, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 1990Tornado–$25M
Apr 27, 1990Tornado–$3M
Dec 29, 2006TornadoKosse$1M
Apr 28, 2009Flash FloodKosse$1M
Jan 16, 2017TornadoTehuacana$300K
Jun 3, 1973Tornado–$250K

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, 1 hurricane and 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Limestone County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 80 mph about 52 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
1989most recent: Chantal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph52 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Jun 23, 1921UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Aug 18, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jun 4, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 28, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jul 28, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 22, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 35 mph63 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 Limestone County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (60 policies)
15.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.8 millionpaid on 291 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $1.3 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 Limestone County

$164,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.6%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; 10,443 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
McLennan CountyModerate20
Navarro CountyLow24
Hill CountyLow23
Freestone CountyLow17
Falls CountyVery Low14
Robertson CountyVery Low16
Leon CountyLow27

Common questions about Limestone County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Limestone County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Limestone County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Limestone County had?

Limestone County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Limestone County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 110th 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 Limestone County?

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

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Limestone County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 10, 1973. The weather service has also logged 133 hail reports and 100 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Limestone County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Limestone County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 80 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.