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Lipscomb County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
175th of 254highest risk in Texas
$9Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Lipscomb County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 175th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, wildfires and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $8.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,839 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 12 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 Lipscomb County

$5.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 89 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$631,156 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 70 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$612,897 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh98.5
$6M
WildfireLow84.6
$631K
Inland floodingVery Low4.4
$613K
Cold waveLow34.6
$489K
TornadoLow29.8
$477K
Strong windLow31.8
$291K
Ice stormLow56.1
$105K
HailVery Low28.1
$103K
Winter weatherLow46.1
$53K
LightningVery Low10.1
$32K
EarthquakeVery Low18.5
$23K
Heat waveVery Low8.9
$14K
HurricaneVery Low16.7
$4K
LandslideVery Low0.8
$0

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 moderate 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 Lipscomb County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor 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 547 storm reports in Lipscomb County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 22, 1987.

43tornadoes
383hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
105damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 22, 1987F3–0 / 0
Apr 30, 1978F3–0 / 0
May 23, 2007EF2Darrouzett0 / 0
Jun 2, 1987F2–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1987F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 3, 1994Thunderstorm WindBooker$500K
Feb 24, 2000TornadoLipscomb$500K
May 3, 1978Tornado–$250K
Mar 22, 1987Tornado–$250K
May 24, 2007FloodLipscomb$220K
Feb 24, 2000HailLipscomb$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Lipscomb County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$237,845paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $174,659 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 Lipscomb County

$124,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.8%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; 1,432 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
Ochiltree CountyVery Low12
Beaver County, OKVery Low26
Ellis County, OKVery Low27
Hemphill CountyVery Low12
Roberts CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Lipscomb County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lipscomb County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Lipscomb County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $631,156.

How many federal disasters has Lipscomb County had?

Lipscomb County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Lipscomb County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 175th 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 Lipscomb County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Lipscomb County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 22, 1987. The weather service has also logged 383 hail reports and 15 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.