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Swisher County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
153rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$9Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Swisher County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 153rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,300 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 12 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Swisher County

Hail

High
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 87 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh94.9
$2M
DroughtHigh93.5
$2M
TornadoLow61.1
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low11.8
$1M
Strong windModerate76.0
$880K
WildfireLow87.8
$769K
Cold waveLow44.1
$591K
Winter weatherModerate73.2
$118K
EarthquakeVery Low33.2
$76K
LightningVery Low20.8
$55K
Heat waveVery Low21.3
$54K
HurricaneVery Low43.1
$31K
Ice stormLow29.1
$23K
LandslideVery Low0.8
$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 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 Swisher County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
May 1, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
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 13
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster
May 13, 1970Tornadoes, Windstorms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 466 storm reports in Swisher County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 12 injuries and about $58.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1970.

75tornadoes
232hail reports, largest 7.02 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 17, 1970F4–0 / 2
Apr 18, 1970F4–0 / 0
May 15, 1957F3–0 / 0
May 28, 1980F3–0 / 0
May 28, 1980F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 1970Tornado–$25M
Jun 7, 2014Thunderstorm WindTulia$10M
May 5, 2002TornadoHappy$4M
Apr 22, 2015HailHappy$4M
Jun 1, 2009HailKress$3M
Apr 18, 1970Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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.

Flood insurance in Swisher County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9,064paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $9,064 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 Swisher County

$86,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.2%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; 3,029 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
Randall CountyModerate16
Hale CountyLow13
Castro CountyVery Low12
Floyd CountyVery Low14
Armstrong CountyVery Low12
Briscoe CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Swisher County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Swisher County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Swisher County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Swisher County had?

Swisher County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Swisher County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 153rd 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 Swisher County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Swisher 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 Swisher County had?

NOAA records list 75 tornadoes in Swisher County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1970. The weather service has also logged 232 hail reports and 20 floods here.

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.