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McLennan County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
20th of 254highest risk in Texas
$84Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McLennan County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $84 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $325 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (770 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.7 million on 393 claims here.

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

Top risks in McLennan County

$29.3 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.
$28.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$11.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate88.9
$29M
TornadoHigh98.8
$29M
Cold waveHigh96.3
$12M
Heat waveModerate96.1
$6M
LightningVery High96.8
$2M
HurricaneLow81.4
$2M
HailModerate90.0
$1M
WildfireModerate90.0
$1M
Strong windModerate66.0
$723K
EarthquakeLow64.3
$492K
Ice stormModerate72.0
$205K
DroughtLow55.7
$180K
Winter weatherLow58.1
$71K
LandslideVery Low38.3
$487

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Hurricane5
Fire4
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 30, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1973High Winds, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,093 storm reports in McLennan County since 1952, with 120 deaths and 649 injuries and about $74.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 11, 1953.

68tornadoes
500hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
381damaging thunderstorm winds
123floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 1953F5–597 / 114
May 6, 1973F5–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1952F4–0 / 0
Mar 10, 1973F4–2 / 0
May 27, 1997F3Moody0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 11, 1953Tornado–$25M
Oct 13, 1981Tornado–$25M
Apr 26, 2023HailWaco$4M
May 5, 2006TornadoWaco$3M
May 5, 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$3M
Apr 26, 2023HailOcee$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1871, 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McLennan County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 80 mph about 59 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
1989most recent: Chantal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 18, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 2, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 35 mph61 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Jul 28, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedTropical 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 McLennan County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (770 policies)
32.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.7 millionpaid on 393 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $1.6 million 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 McLennan County

$243,600median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.2%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; 108,454 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
Bell CountyModerate20
Coryell CountyLow21
Hill CountyLow23
Limestone CountyLow18
Bosque CountyVery Low23
Falls CountyVery Low14

Cities in McLennan County

Common questions about McLennan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McLennan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McLennan County, about $29.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $28.9 million.

How many federal disasters has McLennan County had?

McLennan County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is McLennan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 20th 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 McLennan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in McLennan 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 McLennan County had?

NOAA records list 68 tornadoes in McLennan County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 11, 1953. The weather service has also logged 500 hail reports and 123 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McLennan County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McLennan County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with winds near 80 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.