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Mitchell County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
194th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.8 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 63 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Strong wind

Moderate
$776,641 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low18.2
$2M
DroughtModerate87.7
$1M
Strong windModerate69.9
$777K
HailModerate76.7
$595K
TornadoLow35.4
$547K
WildfireLow84.0
$508K
Cold waveVery Low21.3
$200K
Heat waveVery Low31.0
$114K
Winter weatherLow54.5
$60K
LightningVery Low20.6
$57K
EarthquakeVery Low11.5
$9K
Ice stormVery Low14.7
$7K
HurricaneVery Low23.9
$7K
LandslideVery Low5.4
$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

Fire5
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2011Mitchell Fire ComplexFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
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
Show all 12
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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.

55tornadoes
214hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
108damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 25, 1965F2–1 / 0
May 27, 1982F2–0 / 0
May 27, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 2004F2Colorado City3 / 0
Sep 25, 2003F1Colorado City0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 30, 2020Thunderstorm WindColorado City Arpt$7M
Jun 23, 2017Thunderstorm WindLoraine$3M
Jan 28, 2010Thunderstorm WindLoraine$590K
Mar 4, 2004TornadoLoraine$275K
May 25, 1965Tornado–$250K
May 27, 1982Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$52,900paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1986costliest year, with $33,080 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 Mitchell County

$85,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.8%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; 3,691 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
Howard CountyLow18
Scurry CountyVery Low13
Nolan CountyVery Low18
Fisher CountyVery Low14
Coke CountyVery Low15
Sterling CountyVery Low12
Borden CountyVery Low13

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.