Real County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Real County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 142nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,784 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance (125 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $684,000 on 60 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Real County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 68.5 | $7M | ||
| Wildfire | 72.1 | $118K | ||
| Cold wave | 18.0 | $109K | ||
| Tornado | 16.8 | $103K | ||
| Lightning | 32.7 | $69K | ||
| Hail | 23.2 | $48K | ||
| Drought | 41.5 | $44K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.4 | $34K | ||
| Hurricane | 46.6 | $30K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.4 | $25K | ||
| Winter weather | 24.9 | $13K | ||
| Earthquake | 1.9 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 46.1 | $615 | ||
| Ice storm | 0.7 | $199 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Real County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 246 storm reports in Real County since 1957, with 4 deaths and 56 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1995 near Leakey.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 1995 | F2 | Leakey | 2 / 0 |
| May 7, 1995 | F1 | Leakey | 5 / 0 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | EF0 | Vance | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $1M |
| Aug 23, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $610K |
| Apr 15, 2001 | Hail | Leakey | $80K |
| Apr 15, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Leakey | $50K |
| Nov 15, 2001 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $50K |
| Nov 15, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Leakey | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 17, 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 1851, 1 hurricane and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Real County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 75 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 1886 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 30, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 49 mi |
| Jun 26, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 7, 2010 | Hermine | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 2010 | Hermine | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 30, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 29, 1929 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 20, 1886 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 26, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 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 Real 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 Real 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; 1,951 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kerr County | 19 | |
| Uvalde County | 19 | |
| Bandera County | 16 | |
| Edwards County | 18 |
Common questions about Real County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Real County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Real County, about $7.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $117,723.
How many federal disasters has Real County had?
Real County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Real County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 142nd 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 Real County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 16 homes in Real 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 Real County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Real County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1995 near Leakey. The weather service has also logged 116 hail reports and 102 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Real County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Real County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 75 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.