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McMullen County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
251st of 254highest risk in Texas
$875Kexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McMullen County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 251st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $875,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,459 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 10 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 McMullen County

$395,837 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.

Cold wave

Very Low
$168,456 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hurricane

Very Low
$116,117 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
Inland floodingVery Low2.2
$396K
Cold waveVery Low16.3
$168K
HurricaneVery Low54.6
$116K
DroughtLow38.2
$56K
TornadoVery Low8.5
$49K
HailVery Low11.4
$36K
Heat waveVery Low9.8
$17K
WildfireVery Low27.8
$12K
Strong windVery Low2.5
$12K
Ice stormVery Low12.0
$6K
LightningVery Low0.9
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low1.1
$1K
Winter weatherVery Low1.5
$424
LandslideVery Low3.4
$4

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 low 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 McMullen County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane7
Flood2
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 15
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 85 storm reports in McMullen County since 1956 and about $282,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1959.

6tornadoes
35hail reports, largest 3 inches
17damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1959F2–0 / 0
Oct 20, 1956F0–0 / 0
Oct 20, 1956F0–0 / 0
Oct 20, 1956F0–0 / 0
Sep 13, 1978F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 16, 2010Flash FloodTilden$100K
Oct 18, 2013FloodTilden$50K
Oct 2, 2017FloodTilden$50K
May 10, 1959Tornado–$25K
May 10, 2013Thunderstorm WindCahham$25K
Nov 7, 2016Thunderstorm WindWantz$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 7, 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, 6 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McMullen County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 115 mph about 63 miles away.

6hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2010most recent: Hermine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi
Aug 3, 1970CeliaCategory 3, 115 mph59 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Sep 15, 1919UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph59 mi
Jul 25, 1934UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1999BretTropical storm, 55 mph65 mi
Sep 11, 1998FrancesTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Aug 22, 1998CharleyTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Jul 31, 1978AmeliaTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 McMullen County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$642paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $642 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 McMullen County

$97,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
30.7%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; 348 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
Webb CountyModerate21
Atascosa CountyLow19
Live Oak CountyVery Low22
Duval CountyLow19
La Salle CountyVery Low17

Common questions about McMullen County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McMullen County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McMullen County, about $395,837 a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $168,456.

How many federal disasters has McMullen County had?

McMullen County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is McMullen County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 251st 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 McMullen County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in McMullen 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 McMullen County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in McMullen County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1959. The weather service has also logged 35 hail reports and 27 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McMullen County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McMullen County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 115 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.