Schleicher County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Schleicher County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 236th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $920 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Schleicher County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 82.3 | $908K | ||
| Hail | 62.8 | $356K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.2 | $353K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.1 | $326K | ||
| Tornado | 12.2 | $81K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.5 | $73K | ||
| Lightning | 21.2 | $62K | ||
| Cold wave | 9.0 | $53K | ||
| Heat wave | 12.0 | $21K | ||
| Winter weather | 14.9 | $10K | ||
| Hurricane | 24.3 | $7K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.7 | $2K | ||
| Ice storm | 0.8 | $307 | ||
| Landslide | 0.7 | $0 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Schleicher County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 152 storm reports in Schleicher County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $11.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 18, 2019 near El Dorado Muni Arpt.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2019 | EF2 | El Dorado Muni Arpt | 1 / 0 |
| May 4, 1999 | F2 | Eldorado | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 20, 1997 | F1 | El Dorado Muni Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1997 | F1 | Eldorado | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 1994 | F0 | Eldorado | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 1996 | Hail | Eldorado | $9M |
| Feb 20, 1997 | Tornado | El Dorado Muni Arpt | $800K |
| Nov 6, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eldorado | $500K |
| Oct 8, 2002 | Flash Flood | South Portion | $500K |
| May 18, 2019 | Tornado | El Dorado Muni Arpt | $500K |
| Feb 20, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eldorado | $100K |
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, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Schleicher County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 60 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 30, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
| Jun 27, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 21, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Jun 27, 1851 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 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 Schleicher 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 Schleicher 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; 1,287 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Green County | 19 | |
| Kimble County | 19 | |
| Sutton County | 16 | |
| Crockett County | 14 | |
| Concho County | 13 | |
| Menard County | 17 | |
| Irion County | 11 |
Common questions about Schleicher County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Schleicher County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Schleicher County, about $907,806 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $355,546.
How many federal disasters has Schleicher County had?
Schleicher County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Schleicher County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 236th 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 Schleicher County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Schleicher 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 Schleicher County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Schleicher County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 18, 2019 near El Dorado Muni Arpt. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 26 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Schleicher County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Schleicher County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, 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.