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Midland County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
47th of 254highest risk in Texas
$49Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Midland County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $49 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $287 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,038 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 145 claims here, including $484,000 for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Midland County

$22.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$8.8 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.

Hail

High
$8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.5
$22M
TornadoHigh91.4
$9M
HailHigh98.3
$8M
WildfireModerate93.1
$2M
DroughtHigh92.2
$2M
Cold waveModerate65.9
$2M
Winter weatherHigh95.9
$874K
Heat waveLow65.7
$818K
Strong windModerate59.8
$794K
LightningModerate71.9
$583K
EarthquakeVery Low37.4
$141K
Ice stormLow30.7
$37K
HurricaneVery Low38.4
$29K
LandslideVery Low1.7
$2

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire9
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
May 24, 2011Ceed FireFire management
Apr 9, 2011Hickman FireFire management
Apr 3, 2011Bates Field FireFire management
Mar 20, 2009Greenwood FireFire management
May 1, 2008Price FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 17
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
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,006 storm reports in Midland County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $188 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1965.

36tornadoes
463hail reports, largest 4 inches
283damaging thunderstorm winds
214floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1965F3–0 / 0
May 20, 2019EF3Warfield0 / 0
May 30, 2024EF3Midland Intl0 / 0
May 20, 2019EF2Spraberry2 / 0
May 30, 2024EF2Warfield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 2009HailMidland$161M
Apr 13, 1999HailMidland$8M
Apr 13, 1999Thunderstorm WindMidland$3M
Sep 24, 1995HailMidland$3M
Sep 28, 2012Flash FloodMidland$2M
Jun 5, 2013Thunderstorm WindMidland Intl$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1942, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Midland County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 45 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 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 Midland County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,038 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 145 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $483,527 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 Midland County

$312,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 72,723 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
Ector CountyModerate13
Andrews CountyVery Low12
Martin CountyVery Low13
Reagan CountyVery Low11
Upton CountyVery Low11
Glasscock CountyVery Low11

Cities in Midland County

Common questions about Midland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Midland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Midland County, about $22.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Midland County had?

Midland County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Midland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 47th 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 Midland County?

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

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Midland County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1965. The weather service has also logged 463 hail reports and 214 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Midland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Midland County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 45 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.