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Martin County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
193rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$5Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Martin County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 193rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,051 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 7 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 Martin County

$2.5 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 91 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$569,662 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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
Inland floodingVery Low28.6
$3M
DroughtHigh93.6
$2M
HailModerate77.0
$570K
TornadoVery Low23.6
$248K
Strong windLow23.0
$162K
WildfireLow69.9
$131K
Cold waveVery Low13.2
$96K
Heat waveVery Low19.2
$44K
LightningVery Low6.3
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low14.2
$9K
EarthquakeVery Low10.5
$8K
HurricaneVery Low20.2
$5K
Ice stormVery Low5.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low0.7
$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 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 Martin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
May 1, 2008Price FireFire management
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
Show all 13
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor 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 310 storm reports in Martin County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 24, 1957.

37tornadoes
160hail reports, largest 4 inches
78damaging thunderstorm winds
34floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 24, 1957F3–1 / 0
May 7, 1991F2–0 / 0
May 24, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 31, 1970F2–0 / 0
Oct 27, 1991F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 24, 1994HailStanton$500K
Jul 5, 2004HailFlower Grove$450K
Aug 20, 1979Tornado–$250K
May 7, 1991Tornado–$250K
Sep 8, 2003Thunderstorm WindTarzan$120K
Jun 13, 2002Thunderstorm WindStanton$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Martin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 45 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 35 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical 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 Martin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$390paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1980costliest year, with $390 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 Martin County

$174,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.5%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; 2,135 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
Midland CountyModerate17
Howard CountyLow18
Gaines CountyLow12
Andrews CountyVery Low12
Dawson CountyVery Low14
Glasscock CountyVery Low11
Borden CountyVery Low13

Cities in Martin County

Common questions about Martin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Martin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Martin County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Martin County had?

Martin County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Martin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 193rd 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 Martin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Martin 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 Martin County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Martin County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 24, 1957. The weather service has also logged 160 hail reports and 34 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Martin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Martin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 45 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.