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Mills County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
230th of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mills County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 230th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $502 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Mills County

$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$339,723 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.
$205,734 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 310 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low11.3
$1M
TornadoLow29.3
$340K
WildfireLow76.5
$206K
HailLow50.4
$182K
Cold waveVery Low20.6
$165K
Strong windVery Low16.3
$97K
DroughtLow47.7
$86K
Heat waveVery Low25.0
$67K
LightningVery Low21.3
$50K
Winter weatherLow26.0
$17K
HurricaneVery Low33.5
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low3.5
$2K
Ice stormVery Low4.4
$1K
LandslideVery Low10.1
$20

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 Mills County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
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
Show all 15
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Mills County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 12, 1982.

14tornadoes
129hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
46damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 12, 1982F2–0 / 0
May 12, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jan 5, 1998F1Goldthwaite0 / 0
Apr 30, 1978F1–0 / 0
Oct 31, 1974F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 20, 1997Flash FloodGoldthwaite$2M
May 4, 2023HailDemocrat$100K
Oct 17, 1993HailPriddy$50K
May 4, 2024Flash FloodGoldthwaite Mills Ar$50K
Jan 5, 1998TornadoGoldthwaite$40K
May 15, 2013HailCaradan$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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 1961, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Mills County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 50 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph65 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 Mills County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Mills County

$223,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 2,597 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
Brown CountyLow23
Lampasas CountyVery Low17
Comanche CountyLow17
Hamilton CountyVery Low16
San Saba CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Mills County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mills County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mills County, about $1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $339,723.

How many federal disasters has Mills County had?

Mills County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Mills County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 230th 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 Mills County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Mills 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 Mills County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Mills County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 12, 1982. The weather service has also logged 129 hail reports and 32 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Mills County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Mills County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with winds near 50 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.