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Taylor County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
40th of 254highest risk in Texas
$54Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 26homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Taylor County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $54 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $375 per resident. Since 1981 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2022 (Mesquite Heat Fire). About 1 in 26 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,923 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $16 million on 936 claims here, including $12 million for floods in 2002.

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

Top risks in Taylor County

$22.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.

Hail

Very High
$19 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.8
$23M
HailVery High99.3
$19M
TornadoModerate73.9
$3M
Heat waveModerate86.8
$2M
WildfireModerate89.7
$1M
Cold waveLow56.2
$1M
LightningHigh87.7
$1M
Strong windModerate65.2
$873K
DroughtModerate72.8
$638K
Winter weatherHigh94.2
$634K
EarthquakeVery Low38.5
$145K
Ice stormLow59.4
$136K
HurricaneVery Low49.0
$70K
LandslideVery Low20.8
$132

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 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 Taylor County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire7
Severe Storm5
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

May 18, 2022Mesquite Heat FireFire management
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2009Tuscola FireFire management
Feb 27, 2009Rhodes Ranch FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Oct 2, 2007Tropical Storm ErinMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 23, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,108 storm reports in Taylor County since 1951, with 2 deaths and 52 injuries and about $472 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 25, 1976.

69tornadoes
563hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
374damaging thunderstorm winds
96floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 25, 1976F3–1 / 0
Mar 14, 1982F3–5 / 0
Apr 28, 1985F2–0 / 1
May 18, 2019EF2Dyess AFB Abile0 / 0
Mar 4, 2004F2Tuscola2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2014HailHamby$400M
Jul 6, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Aug 2, 2007Flash FloodPotosi$10M
May 18, 2019TornadoDyess AFB Abile$10M
Aug 18, 2007FloodAbilene$5M
May 30, 2001HailAbilene$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Taylor County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 50 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1886most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 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 Taylor County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,923 policies)
20.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15.6 millionpaid on 936 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $11.6 million 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 Taylor County

$198,600median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.8%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; 62,198 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
Jones CountyVery Low22
Nolan CountyVery Low18
Callahan CountyVery Low22
Runnels CountyVery Low11
Coleman CountyVery Low16
Fisher CountyVery Low14

Cities in Taylor County

Common questions about Taylor County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Taylor County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Taylor County, about $22.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $19 million.

How many federal disasters has Taylor County had?

Taylor County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1981, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Mesquite Heat Fire in May 2022.

Is Taylor County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 40th 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 Taylor County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 26 homes in Taylor 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 Taylor County had?

NOAA records list 69 tornadoes in Taylor County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 25, 1976. The weather service has also logged 563 hail reports and 96 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Taylor County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Taylor County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 50 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.