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Medina County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
84th of 254highest risk in Texas
$21Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Medina County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $414 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (357 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.7 million on 148 claims here, including $1.6 million for floods in 2002.

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

Top risks in Medina County

$12.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 122 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.2
$13M
TornadoLow60.9
$1M
DroughtHigh90.8
$1M
Strong windHigh85.9
$1M
HailModerate85.6
$922K
Heat waveLow74.0
$813K
LightningHigh87.1
$753K
WildfireLow85.2
$520K
Cold waveLow39.9
$483K
HurricaneLow59.0
$138K
Winter weatherModerate72.5
$107K
Ice stormLow30.3
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low14.9
$12K
LandslideVery Low52.2
$1K

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 Medina County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Oct 2, 2007Tropical Storm ErinMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 18
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 379 storm reports in Medina County since 1958, with 6 deaths and 104 injuries and about $68.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1975.

27tornadoes
145hail reports, largest 6.42 inches
103damaging thunderstorm winds
104floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 29, 1975F3–5 / 3
Oct 12, 2001F2Hondo25 / 0
May 2, 1958F2–0 / 0
Apr 7, 2002F2Yancey0 / 0
May 14, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 12, 2001TornadoHondo$20M
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$13M
Feb 10, 1998Thunderstorm WindDevine$10M
Feb 10, 1998HailDevine$10M
Jul 21, 2007Flash FloodD Hanis$3M
Oct 12, 2001Thunderstorm WindHondo$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 1851, 3 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Medina County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 95 mph about 58 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2010most recent: Hermine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph58 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1913UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 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 Medina County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (357 policies)
16.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.7 millionpaid on 148 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest 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 Medina County

$239,600median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.8%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; 19,890 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
Bexar CountyHigh30
Atascosa CountyLow19
Uvalde CountyLow19
Bandera CountyLow16
Frio CountyLow17
Zavala CountyLow18

Cities in Medina County

Common questions about Medina County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Medina County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Medina County, about $12.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Medina County had?

Medina County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Medina County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 84th 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 Medina County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Medina County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1975. The weather service has also logged 145 hail reports and 104 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Medina County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Medina County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 95 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.