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Lubbock County, Texas

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

Relatively High overall risk
12th of 254highest risk in Texas
$214Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Lubbock County, Texas has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 96% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $214 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $689 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (765 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 346 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lubbock County

Drought

Very High
$61.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 76 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$46.8 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.

Hail

Very High
$34.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtVery High99.8
$62M
Inland floodingModerate92.1
$47M
HailVery High99.8
$35M
TornadoHigh98.8
$32M
Strong windVery High99.8
$17M
Cold waveHigh97.0
$15M
Heat waveModerate80.6
$1M
Winter weatherVery High98.6
$1M
Ice stormHigh92.1
$1M
LightningHigh83.0
$804K
WildfireLow86.2
$750K
EarthquakeLow60.4
$439K
HurricaneVery Low47.2
$54K
LandslideVery Low20.5
$117

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Lubbock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Severe Storm5
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2010Hurricane AlexMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 18
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 1970Tornadoes, Windstorms & FloodingMajor 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 1,341 storm reports in Lubbock County since 1955, with 29 deaths and 527 injuries and about $1.6 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 11, 1970.

98tornadoes
671hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
447damaging thunderstorm winds
83floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 1970F5–500 / 26
Apr 21, 1957F4–6 / 0
May 24, 1957F3–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1957F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 5, 2013Thunderstorm WindLubbock Intl Ar$400M
May 8, 2015HailWoodrow$300M
May 11, 1970Tornado–$250M
Jun 7, 2014FloodHurlwood$100M
May 20, 2020HailWoodrow$100M
Jun 23, 2023HailWolfforth$50M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Lubbock County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (765 policies)
11.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 346 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $704,028 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 Lubbock County

$214,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.7%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; 139,344 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
Hale CountyLow13
Hockley CountyLow14
Lamb CountyLow14
Terry CountyLow13
Garza CountyVery Low15
Lynn CountyVery Low16
Floyd CountyVery Low14
Crosby CountyVery Low14

Cities in Lubbock County

Common questions about Lubbock County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lubbock County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Lubbock County, about $61.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $46.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Lubbock County had?

Lubbock County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Lubbock County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 12th 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 Lubbock County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Lubbock 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 Lubbock County had?

NOAA records list 98 tornadoes in Lubbock County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 11, 1970. The weather service has also logged 671 hail reports and 83 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.