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Madison County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
157th of 254highest risk in Texas
$9Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Madison County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 157th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $687 per resident. Since 1987 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 30 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $452,000 on 26 claims here.

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

Top risks in Madison County

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2.3 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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
Cold waveModerate77.2
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low23.8
$2M
HurricaneLow79.1
$1M
TornadoLow55.4
$1M
DroughtModerate79.3
$740K
Strong windLow32.0
$262K
LightningModerate57.3
$254K
Heat waveLow40.5
$196K
HailVery Low31.1
$104K
Ice stormLow53.3
$82K
WildfireVery Low47.8
$35K
EarthquakeVery Low18.2
$20K
Winter weatherVery Low21.3
$16K
LandslideVery Low5.0
$6

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 Madison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Flood6
Severe Storm4
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

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
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
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
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 20, 1987Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 193 storm reports in Madison County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 10 injuries and about $10 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 15, 1987.

17tornadoes
57hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 15, 1987F2–2 / 3
Oct 22, 1954F2–0 / 0
May 1, 1967F2–0 / 0
Mar 21, 2022EF1Laceola0 / 0
Dec 29, 2006F1North Zulch3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2024FloodNorth Zulch$4M
Nov 15, 1987Tornado–$3M
Mar 21, 2022TornadoLaceola$1M
Dec 29, 2006TornadoNorth Zulch$750K
Jul 26, 2009Thunderstorm WindMadisonville$500K
Jan 21, 1998TornadoMadisonville$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 10, 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 1854, 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Madison County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with top winds near 100 mph about 63 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph63 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph56 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph63 mi
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Jun 27, 1989AllisonTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 1970FeliceTropical storm, 45 mph58 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 Madison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (30 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$451,898paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $125,190 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 Madison County

$176,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21%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; 5,107 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
Walker CountyLow36
Grimes CountyLow26
Houston CountyLow26
Robertson CountyVery Low16
Leon CountyLow27

Common questions about Madison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Madison County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Madison County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Madison County had?

Madison County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1987, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Madison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 157th 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 Madison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Madison 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 Madison County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Madison County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 15, 1987. The weather service has also logged 57 hail reports and 30 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Madison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Madison County. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with winds near 100 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.