Oldham County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Oldham County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 216th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,438 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 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 Oldham County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 95.6 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 34.3 | $462K | ||
| Hail | 63.9 | $391K | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.6 | $287K | ||
| Tornado | 19.1 | $198K | ||
| Strong wind | 21.2 | $173K | ||
| Wildfire | 66.1 | $115K | ||
| Winter weather | 42.7 | $45K | ||
| Lightning | 5.6 | $16K | ||
| Earthquake | 15.2 | $15K | ||
| Heat wave | 6.7 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.2 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 7.8 | $15 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Oldham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 467 storm reports in Oldham County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 16, 1989.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1989 | F1 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1971 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1958 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1979 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1989 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 6, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adrian | $212K |
| Apr 25, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adrian | $150K |
| Jun 10, 1994 | Hail | Vega | $50K |
| Jul 6, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adrian | $46K |
| Jul 6, 2002 | Flash Flood | Vega | $45K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Oldham 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 Oldham 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; 776 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Randall County | 16 | |
| Potter County | 18 | |
| Moore County | 13 | |
| Deaf Smith County | 13 | |
| Quay County, NM | 5 | |
| Hartley County | 11 |
Common questions about Oldham County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Oldham County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Oldham County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $461,870.
How many federal disasters has Oldham County had?
Oldham County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Oldham County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 216th 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 Oldham 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 Oldham County had?
NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Oldham County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 16, 1989. The weather service has also logged 310 hail reports and 8 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.