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Somervell County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
213th of 254highest risk in Texas
$8Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Somervell County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 213th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $832 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (Chalk Mountain Fire). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $633,000 on 34 claims here.

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

Top risks in Somervell County

$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$1.5 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.
$812,712 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low20.1
$4M
TornadoLow42.7
$1M
Cold waveLow35.2
$813K
WildfireLow81.0
$677K
HailLow37.7
$249K
Heat waveVery Low28.8
$189K
LightningLow27.3
$150K
DroughtLow43.8
$142K
Strong windVery Low10.5
$118K
Ice stormLow33.1
$58K
HurricaneVery Low42.9
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low6.6
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low6.9
$7K
LandslideVery Low12.0
$57

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire6
Severe Storm4
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2022Chalk Mountain FireFire management
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2011Big Trickle Ranch FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 18
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1971

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 167 storm reports in Somervell County since 1971, with 4 deaths and 11 injuries and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1991.

6tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 4 inches
66damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1991F2–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1991F2–0 / 0
Apr 10, 2008EF1Glen Rose0 / 0
Oct 1, 1988F0–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2011EF0Rainbow0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 8, 2007Flash FloodGlen Rose$400K
Apr 12, 1991Tornado–$250K
Apr 10, 2008TornadoGlen Rose$200K
Apr 26, 2015Thunderstorm WindGlen Rose$150K
Sep 4, 1999LightningGlen Rose$100K
Apr 30, 2007LightningNemo$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 2025. 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 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Somervell County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 65 mph about 52 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1983most recent: Alicia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Aug 19, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 19, 1983AliciaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph52 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 Somervell County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$632,590paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $181,005 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 Somervell County

$289,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.5%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; 4,017 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
Johnson CountyModerate16
Hood CountyLow19
Erath CountyLow16
Bosque CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Somervell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Somervell County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Somervell County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Somervell County had?

Somervell County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Chalk Mountain Fire in July 2022.

Is Somervell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 213th 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 Somervell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Somervell 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 Somervell County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Somervell County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1991. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 19 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Somervell County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Somervell County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 65 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.