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Parker County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
49th of 254highest risk in Texas
$53Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Parker County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $53 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $357 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (429 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.5 million on 278 claims here.

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

Top risks in Parker County

$18.1 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.
$17.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh96.2
$18M
Inland floodingLow72.4
$17M
WildfireModerate96.2
$6M
Cold waveModerate82.8
$5M
Heat waveModerate89.5
$3M
HailModerate84.2
$1M
LightningModerate67.4
$533K
Strong windLow25.4
$286K
Ice stormModerate70.1
$262K
EarthquakeVery Low41.4
$196K
HurricaneVery Low45.2
$55K
DroughtLow34.1
$44K
Winter weatherLow35.4
$44K
LandslideLow64.8
$4K

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 low 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 Parker County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm5
Fire5
Hurricane4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 23
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 3, 2000Tx - Quail Run Fire - 10/03/00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 23, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 30, 1974Severe 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 1,004 storm reports in Parker County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 24 injuries and about $33.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1990.

77tornadoes
568hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
275damaging thunderstorm winds
74floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 25, 1990F4–0 / 0
Apr 28, 2026EF3Cool0 / 0
May 12, 1982F2–6 / 0
May 12, 1976F2–0 / 0
May 12, 1976F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 9, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$8M
May 5, 1995HailAledo$4M
May 12, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 25, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 17, 2008HailWeatherford$2M
Apr 28, 2026TornadoCool$2M

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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Parker County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 60 mph about 57 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 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 Parker County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (429 policies)
18.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.5 millionpaid on 278 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $1 million 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 Parker County

$375,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2002median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
20%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.8%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; 59,879 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
Tarrant CountyHigh25
Johnson CountyModerate16
Wise CountyLow20
Hood CountyLow19
Palo Pinto CountyLow25
Jack CountyVery Low17

Cities in Parker County

Common questions about Parker County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Parker County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Parker County, about $18.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $17.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Parker County had?

Parker County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Parker County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 49th 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 Parker County?

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

NOAA records list 77 tornadoes in Parker County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1990. The weather service has also logged 568 hail reports and 74 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Parker County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Parker County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 60 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.