Parker County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | 96.2 | $18M | ||
| Inland flooding | 72.4 | $17M | ||
| Wildfire | 96.2 | $6M | ||
| Cold wave | 82.8 | $5M | ||
| Heat wave | 89.5 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 84.2 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 67.4 | $533K | ||
| Strong wind | 25.4 | $286K | ||
| Ice storm | 70.1 | $262K | ||
| Earthquake | 41.4 | $196K | ||
| Hurricane | 45.2 | $55K | ||
| Drought | 34.1 | $44K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.4 | $44K | ||
| Landslide | 64.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 23
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1990 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2026 | EF3 | Cool | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1982 | F2 | – | 6 / 0 |
| May 12, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $8M |
| May 5, 1995 | Hail | Aledo | $4M |
| May 12, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 25, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 17, 2008 | Hail | Weatherford | $2M |
| Apr 28, 2026 | Tornado | Cool | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County | 25 | |
| Johnson County | 16 | |
| Wise County | 20 | |
| Hood County | 19 | |
| Palo Pinto County | 25 | |
| Jack County | 17 |
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.