McLennan County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 88.9 | $29M | ||
| Tornado | 98.8 | $29M | ||
| Cold wave | 96.3 | $12M | ||
| Heat wave | 96.1 | $6M | ||
| Lightning | 96.8 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 81.4 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 90.0 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.0 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 66.0 | $723K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.3 | $492K | ||
| Ice storm | 72.0 | $205K | ||
| Drought | 55.7 | $180K | ||
| Winter weather | 58.1 | $71K | ||
| Landslide | 38.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 20
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1953 | F5 | – | 597 / 114 |
| May 6, 1973 | F5 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 1952 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 10, 1973 | F4 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 27, 1997 | F3 | Moody | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1953 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Oct 13, 1981 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Hail | Waco | $4M |
| May 5, 2006 | Tornado | Waco | $3M |
| May 5, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $3M |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Hail | Ocee | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 13, 1897 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 18, 1915 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Jun 5, 1871 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 18, 1983 | Alicia | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 1989 | Chantal | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 18, 1983 | Alicia | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 28, 1945 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Jul 28, 1943 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 14, 1932 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bell County | 20 | |
| Coryell County | 21 | |
| Hill County | 23 | |
| Limestone County | 18 | |
| Bosque County | 23 | |
| Falls County | 14 |
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.