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Rockwall County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
78th of 254highest risk in Texas
$46Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Rockwall County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $46 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $430 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (158 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 61 claims here, including $444,000 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 Rockwall County

$16.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.
$15 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 18 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh93.7
$16M
Inland floodingLow61.3
$15M
Heat waveModerate90.1
$5M
Cold waveModerate73.9
$4M
HailModerate93.1
$4M
Strong windModerate74.4
$2M
EarthquakeVery Low43.5
$301K
LightningLow38.2
$238K
WildfireLow66.6
$211K
Ice stormLow54.6
$165K
DroughtLow35.3
$67K
Winter weatherLow32.2
$52K
HurricaneVery Low34.0
$31K
LandslideVery Low14.0
$87

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm3
Fire3
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Show all 14
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 231 storm reports in Rockwall County since 1958, with 1 death and 13 injuries and about $121 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 3, 2012 near Blackland.

18tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
87damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 2012EF3Blackland3 / 0
Dec 26, 2015EF2Lake Ray Hubbard0 / 0
Apr 18, 1970F2–0 / 0
May 23, 1976F2–0 / 0
Oct 20, 2019EF1Rockwall0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 2016HailLake Ray Hubbard$50M
Apr 3, 2012HailHeath$15M
Apr 3, 2012TornadoBlackland$15M
Apr 11, 2016HailRockwall$10M
Oct 20, 2019TornadoRockwall$10M
Apr 25, 1994HailRockwall$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 27, 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 1871, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Rockwall County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1871, with top winds near 45 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 Rockwall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (158 policies)
17.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 61 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $443,853 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 Rockwall County

$415,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2006median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
7%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.2%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; 43,580 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
Dallas CountyVery High25
Collin CountyHigh17
Kaufman CountyLow17
Hunt CountyModerate15

Common questions about Rockwall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rockwall County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Rockwall County, about $16.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $15 million.

How many federal disasters has Rockwall County had?

Rockwall County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Rockwall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 78th 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 Rockwall County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Rockwall 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 Rockwall County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Rockwall County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 3, 2012 near Blackland. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Rockwall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Rockwall County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1871, with winds near 45 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.