Midland County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 80.5 | $22M | ||
| Tornado | 91.4 | $9M | ||
| Hail | 98.3 | $8M | ||
| Wildfire | 93.1 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 92.2 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 65.9 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 95.9 | $874K | ||
| Heat wave | 65.7 | $818K | ||
| Strong wind | 59.8 | $794K | ||
| Lightning | 71.9 | $583K | ||
| Earthquake | 37.4 | $141K | ||
| Ice storm | 30.7 | $37K | ||
| Hurricane | 38.4 | $29K | ||
| Landslide | 1.7 | $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
Most recent
Show all 17
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1965 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 2019 | EF3 | Warfield | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 2024 | EF3 | Midland Intl | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 2019 | EF2 | Spraberry | 2 / 0 |
| May 30, 2024 | EF2 | Warfield | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 2009 | Hail | Midland | $161M |
| Apr 13, 1999 | Hail | Midland | $8M |
| Apr 13, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Midland | $3M |
| Sep 24, 1995 | Hail | Midland | $3M |
| Sep 28, 2012 | Flash Flood | Midland | $2M |
| Jun 5, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Midland 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ector County | 13 | |
| Andrews County | 12 | |
| Martin County | 13 | |
| Reagan County | 11 | |
| Upton County | 11 | |
| Glasscock County | 11 |
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.