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McCulloch County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
215th of 254highest risk in Texas
$4Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McCulloch County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 215th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $482 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 16 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 McCulloch County

$1.5 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.

Drought

Moderate
$859,124 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 56 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$378,675 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
Inland floodingVery Low16.8
$2M
DroughtModerate83.3
$859K
TornadoLow29.5
$379K
HailLow53.3
$232K
LightningLow42.6
$135K
WildfireLow69.3
$128K
Heat waveVery Low33.7
$126K
Strong windLow18.0
$118K
Cold waveVery Low13.7
$102K
Winter weatherLow37.5
$32K
HurricaneVery Low30.6
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low6.0
$4K
Ice stormVery Low4.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low6.4
$9

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire5
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 17
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 8, 2000Tx-Deep Creek Fire-9/8/00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 497 storm reports in McCulloch County since 1955 and about $7.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1976.

29tornadoes
318hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
98damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1976F3–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1999F2Brady0 / 0
May 30, 1971F2–0 / 0
May 14, 1989F2–0 / 0
Jan 15, 2017EF2Voca0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 2026LightningBrady$6M
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodBrady$300K
May 30, 1976Tornado–$250K
Apr 20, 1997Thunderstorm WindBrady$250K
May 14, 2008TornadoBrady Res$250K
Oct 13, 2018TornadoBrady$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 21, 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 1851, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McCulloch County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 65 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 McCulloch County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$18,990paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $18,990 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 McCulloch County

$150,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 4,219 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
Brown CountyLow23
Coleman CountyVery Low16
San Saba CountyVery Low20
Mason CountyVery Low19
Concho CountyVery Low13
Menard CountyVery Low17

Common questions about McCulloch County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McCulloch County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McCulloch County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $859,124.

How many federal disasters has McCulloch County had?

McCulloch County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in July 2025.

Is McCulloch County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 215th 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 McCulloch County?

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

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in McCulloch County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1976. The weather service has also logged 318 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McCulloch County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McCulloch County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 65 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.