Mitchell County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Mitchell County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 194th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $642 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). 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 Mitchell 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 18.2 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 87.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 69.9 | $777K | ||
| Hail | 76.7 | $595K | ||
| Tornado | 35.4 | $547K | ||
| Wildfire | 84.0 | $508K | ||
| Cold wave | 21.3 | $200K | ||
| Heat wave | 31.0 | $114K | ||
| Winter weather | 54.5 | $60K | ||
| Lightning | 20.6 | $57K | ||
| Earthquake | 11.5 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.7 | $7K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.9 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 5.4 | $7 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Mitchell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
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 432 storm reports in Mitchell County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $14.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 25, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 1965 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 27, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 2004 | F2 | Colorado City | 3 / 0 |
| Sep 25, 2003 | F1 | Colorado City | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colorado City Arpt | $7M |
| Jun 23, 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Loraine | $3M |
| Jan 28, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Loraine | $590K |
| Mar 4, 2004 | Tornado | Loraine | $275K |
| May 25, 1965 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 27, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Mitchell County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 45 mph about 56 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 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 Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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; 3,691 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 18 | |
| Scurry County | 13 | |
| Nolan County | 18 | |
| Fisher County | 14 | |
| Coke County | 15 | |
| Sterling County | 12 | |
| Borden County | 13 |
Common questions about Mitchell County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Mitchell County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mitchell County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Mitchell County had?
Mitchell County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Mitchell County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 194th 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 Mitchell County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Mitchell 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 Mitchell County had?
NOAA records list 55 tornadoes in Mitchell County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 25, 1965. The weather service has also logged 214 hail reports and 53 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Mitchell County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Mitchell County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, 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.