Motley County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Motley County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 239th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, wildfires and hail. FEMA estimates about $1.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,700 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No 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 Motley County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 81.6 | $729K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.3 | $299K | ||
| Hail | 56.9 | $245K | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.6 | $223K | ||
| Tornado | 14.9 | $100K | ||
| Strong wind | 15.4 | $92K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.2 | $66K | ||
| Ice storm | 26.6 | $18K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.3 | $16K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.2 | $10K | ||
| Lightning | 2.5 | $6K | ||
| Earthquake | 4.4 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 9.8 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 5.2 | $6 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Motley County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
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 321 storm reports in Motley County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 16 injuries and about $5.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 21, 2023 near Whiteflat.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2023 | EF3 | Whiteflat | 15 / 4 |
| May 1, 1984 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 24, 1960 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 2010 | EF2 | Northfield | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 23, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 4, 2002 | Hail | Matador | $850K |
| Aug 12, 2004 | Hail | Matador | $300K |
| Jun 4, 2002 | Hail | Matador | $250K |
| Apr 22, 2015 | Hail | Flomot | $150K |
| May 25, 1999 | Hail | Roaring Spgs | $100K |
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.
Flood insurance in Motley 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 Motley 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; 734 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Floyd County | 14 | |
| Crosby County | 14 | |
| Hall County | 16 | |
| Dickens County | 14 | |
| Briscoe County | 14 | |
| Cottle County | 17 | |
| King County | 15 |
Common questions about Motley County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Motley County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Motley County, about $728,642 a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $298,542.
How many federal disasters has Motley County had?
Motley County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Motley County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 239th 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 Motley County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Motley County had?
NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Motley County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 21, 2023 near Whiteflat. The weather service has also logged 184 hail reports and 7 floods here.
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.