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Nolan County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
151st of 254highest risk in Texas
$7Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Nolan County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 151st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $498 per resident. Since 1980 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 56 claims here, including $741,000 for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Nolan County

$2.1 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 66 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low29.3
$2M
TornadoLow62.7
$1M
DroughtModerate89.9
$1M
Strong windModerate80.4
$824K
HailModerate86.1
$802K
WildfireLow86.6
$518K
Cold waveLow44.9
$485K
Heat waveLow43.5
$168K
Winter weatherModerate68.6
$76K
LightningLow25.9
$57K
EarthquakeVery Low17.2
$14K
Ice stormVery Low22.1
$12K
HurricaneVery Low26.8
$7K
LandslideVery Low13.0
$29

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire7
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2011Nolan County Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2011White Hat FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 18
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Apr 23, 1986Severe Storms, Rains & TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 26, 1980Tropical Storm DanielleMajor 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 469 storm reports in Nolan County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 104 injuries and about $47.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1986.

49tornadoes
254hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1986F3–100 / 1
Mar 19, 2020EF2Nolan0 / 0
Mar 23, 1973F2–0 / 0
May 27, 1982F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1985F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 19, 1986Tornado–$25M
May 4, 2002HailRoscoe$12M
Mar 19, 2020TornadoNolan$2M
May 27, 2004HailSweetwater$2M
May 27, 2004Thunderstorm WindSweetwater$2M
Oct 17, 2018FloodWastella$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Nolan County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 50 mph about 58 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 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 Nolan County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 56 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $740,695 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 Nolan County

$96,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.5%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; 7,104 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
Taylor CountyModerate20
Jones CountyVery Low22
Scurry CountyVery Low13
Runnels CountyVery Low11
Mitchell CountyVery Low12
Fisher CountyVery Low14
Coke CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Nolan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nolan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nolan County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Nolan County had?

Nolan County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1980, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Nolan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 151st 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 Nolan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Nolan 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 Nolan County had?

NOAA records list 49 tornadoes in Nolan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1986. The weather service has also logged 254 hail reports and 30 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Nolan County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Nolan County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, 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.