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Montague County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
126th of 254highest risk in Texas
$16Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Montague County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 126th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $782 per resident. Since 1981 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (63 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 77 claims here.

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

Top risks in Montague County

$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 36 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh98.2
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low30.7
$3M
TornadoModerate77.6
$3M
Heat waveLow78.1
$1M
WildfireModerate89.8
$1M
Cold waveLow54.0
$943K
Strong windModerate72.8
$903K
Ice stormHigh87.8
$643K
HailLow60.7
$333K
EarthquakeVery Low36.0
$101K
LightningVery Low17.3
$51K
Winter weatherLow34.7
$31K
HurricaneVery Low38.8
$24K
LandslideVery Low58.8
$2K

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 moderate 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 Montague County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire6
Severe Storm5
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3
Flood2
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
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Jan 1, 2006Ringgold FireFire management
Show all 20
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 23, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 621 storm reports in Montague County since 1955, with 1 death and 28 injuries and about $16 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 7, 1995 near Sunset-.

56tornadoes
380hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
135damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 7, 1995F3Sunset-11 / 1
Apr 19, 1976F3–2 / 0
Apr 2, 1958F3–1 / 0
Apr 14, 1965F3–0 / 0
Apr 2, 1957F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 22, 2020Flash FloodFruitland$5M
Apr 29, 2009FloodSt Jo$3M
May 7, 1995TornadoSunset-$2M
May 22, 2020Thunderstorm WindBowie$1M
Apr 26, 1994TornadoSt. Jo$500K
Apr 11, 2016HailBowie$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 8, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montague County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 55 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 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 Montague County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (63 policies)
17.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 77 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $426,631 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 Montague County

$206,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.3%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; 10,348 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
Wise CountyLow20
Cooke CountyLow20
Clay CountyVery Low19
Love County, OKVery Low24
Jack CountyVery Low17
Jefferson County, OKVery Low28

Common questions about Montague County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montague County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Montague County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Montague County had?

Montague County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1981, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Montague County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 126th 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 Montague County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Montague 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 Montague County had?

NOAA records list 56 tornadoes in Montague County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 7, 1995 near Sunset-. The weather service has also logged 380 hail reports and 43 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montague County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Montague County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 55 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.