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Morris County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
160th of 254highest risk in Texas
$7Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Morris County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 160th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $587 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 14 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 Morris County

Tornado

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$669,522 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoModerate79.3
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low24.2
$2M
Ice stormHigh91.3
$670K
HailModerate82.1
$633K
Strong windModerate63.6
$513K
Heat waveLow59.9
$365K
Cold waveLow32.0
$293K
EarthquakeVery Low39.0
$91K
LightningLow35.5
$86K
WildfireLow64.6
$75K
HurricaneVery Low49.3
$44K
Winter weatherLow36.1
$24K
LandslideVery Low22.0
$92

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Morris County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane6
Fire4
Severe Ice Storm3
Flood2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 16
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
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 231 storm reports in Morris County since 1954, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $7.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on November 4, 2022 near Cason.

17tornadoes
88hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
111damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 4, 2022EF3Cason8 / 1
Apr 30, 1954F3–0 / 0
Apr 4, 2025EF2Lone Star0 / 0
Apr 23, 2000F2Omaha0 / 0
Jan 10, 1975F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 4, 2022TornadoCason$5M
Jun 13, 1997Thunderstorm WindDaingerfield$850K
Apr 4, 2025TornadoLone Star$750K
Jan 18, 1995HailDaingerfield$300K
Apr 10, 2008Thunderstorm WindNaples$150K
Oct 9, 1993Thunderstorm WindNaples$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 1918, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Morris County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 50 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Morris County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$26,907paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $22,991 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 Morris County

$120,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.2%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; 5,821 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
Bowie CountyLow24
Upshur CountyLow21
Titus CountyLow19
Cass CountyLow26
Camp CountyVery Low13
Red River CountyLow24
Marion CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Morris County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morris County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Morris County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Morris County had?

Morris County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Morris County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 160th 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 Morris County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Morris 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 Morris County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Morris County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on November 4, 2022 near Cason. The weather service has also logged 88 hail reports and 13 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Morris County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Morris County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), 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.