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Milam County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
116th of 254highest risk in Texas
$13Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Milam County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 116th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $513 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 46 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $200,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Milam County

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.7
$4M
TornadoModerate81.7
$3M
Cold waveModerate75.9
$2M
HurricaneLow77.8
$897K
DroughtModerate86.4
$839K
HailModerate79.8
$546K
LightningHigh83.6
$545K
Heat waveLow65.1
$464K
Strong windLow37.2
$237K
WildfireLow65.6
$79K
Winter weatherLow51.5
$43K
Ice stormLow44.7
$42K
EarthquakeVery Low23.9
$25K
LandslideVery Low26.1
$139

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 very high 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 Milam County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Fire4
Flood3
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Show all 20
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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 31, 1999Tx-Alcoa FireFire management
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 299 storm reports in Milam County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 16 injuries and about $13 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 30, 1954.

25tornadoes
83hail reports, largest 4 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
79floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 30, 1954F3–0 / 0
May 25, 2015EF2Pettibone6 / 1
Nov 15, 1987F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1989F2–0 / 0
May 6, 1955F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 13, 2004Flash FloodCameron$3M
Nov 15, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jun 7, 1989Tornado–$3M
Jul 14, 2007Flash FloodBuckholts$800K
May 25, 2015TornadoPettibone$760K
May 2, 1994HailCameron$550K

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 1854, 1 hurricane and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Milam County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, with top winds near 95 mph about 61 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
1989most recent: Chantal

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph61 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 17, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Sep 19, 1854UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Sep 13, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 28, 1945UnnamedTropical storm, 50 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 Milam County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (46 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$200,324paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $61,164 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 Milam County

$189,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.8%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; 11,641 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
Williamson CountyModerate23
Bell CountyModerate20
Burleson CountyVery Low20
Lee CountyVery Low20
Falls CountyVery Low14
Robertson CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Milam County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Milam County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Milam County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Milam County had?

Milam County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Milam County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 116th 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 Milam County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Milam 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 Milam County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Milam County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 30, 1954. The weather service has also logged 83 hail reports and 79 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Milam County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Milam County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1900, 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.