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Menard County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
241st of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 17homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Menard County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 241st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $2.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,003 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 17 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 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance (70 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $290,000 on 38 claims here.

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

Top risks in Menard County

$1.2 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.
$230,459 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 68 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Very Low
$118,580 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 Low12.0
$1M
DroughtLow60.7
$230K
TornadoVery Low15.6
$119K
HailVery Low33.3
$107K
LightningLow33.2
$97K
WildfireVery Low60.0
$65K
Cold waveVery Low9.2
$51K
Strong windVery Low8.4
$48K
Heat waveVery Low14.0
$25K
HurricaneVery Low36.0
$18K
Winter weatherVery Low16.2
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low3.8
$3K
Ice stormVery Low0.4
$221
LandslideVery Low8.9
$17

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 Menard County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Flood4
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 207 storm reports in Menard County since 1964 and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on May 31, 2005 near Ft Mckavett.

3tornadoes
118hail reports, largest 5.87 inches
42damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 2005F0Ft Mckavett0 / 0
May 9, 2007EF0Callan0 / 0
May 26, 2025EFUMenard0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 16, 2018FloodCallan$7M
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodMenard$350K
May 31, 1997Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett$300K
May 31, 1997HailFt Mckavett$100K
Jun 14, 1997Thunderstorm WindMenard$100K
Aug 29, 1996Flash FloodMenard$50K

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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Menard County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 65 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph55 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph55 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 Menard County

Check your address flood zone ›
5.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (70 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$290,147paid on 38 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $90,869 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 Menard County

$108,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.3%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; 1,383 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
Tom Green CountyLow19
McCulloch CountyVery Low17
Kimble CountyVery Low19
Mason CountyVery Low19
Sutton CountyVery Low16
Schleicher CountyVery Low14
Concho CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Menard County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Menard County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Menard County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $230,459.

How many federal disasters has Menard County had?

Menard County has been included in 17 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 Menard County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 241st 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 Menard County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 17 homes in Menard 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 Menard County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Menard County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on May 31, 2005 near Ft Mckavett. The weather service has also logged 118 hail reports and 43 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Menard County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Menard 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.