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Terrell County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
252nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$545Kexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Terrell County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 252nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $545,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $720 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (flooding). Only 2 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 Terrell County

$420,674 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Wildfire

Very Low
$28,256 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 270 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Strong wind

Very Low
$27,594 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low3.7
$421K
WildfireVery Low46.7
$28K
Strong windVery Low5.7
$28K
Heat waveVery Low12.6
$20K
LightningVery Low7.2
$17K
TornadoVery Low4.8
$13K
HailVery Low5.2
$9K
Cold waveVery Low4.0
$5K
Winter weatherVery Low3.3
$2K
HurricaneVery Low10.1
$1K
EarthquakeVery Low1.6
$1K
Ice stormVery Low1.3
$419
LandslideVery Low12.7
$32

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 Terrell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood2
Tornado1
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 14
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 219 storm reports in Terrell County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 19 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 2, 2024 near Sanderson.

11tornadoes
118hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
47damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 2024EF3Sanderson12 / 0
Sep 21, 1965F3–0 / 0
Apr 21, 2011EF2Sanderson0 / 0
Apr 29, 2009EF2Dryden0 / 0
Aug 10, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 25, 2004Flash FloodDryden$1M
Jun 2, 2024TornadoSanderson$400K
Jul 25, 2004Flash FloodDryden$300K
Sep 21, 1965Tornado–$250K
Jun 15, 1997Thunderstorm WindSanderson$200K
Jul 25, 2004Flash FloodDryden$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 14, 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 1929, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Terrell County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 55 mph about 40 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1970most recent: Celia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph40 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph40 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 Terrell County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5,159paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1978costliest year, with $5,159 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 Terrell County

$137,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11%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; 639 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
Val Verde CountyLow15
Pecos CountyVery Low14
Brewster CountyVery Low12
Crockett CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Terrell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Terrell County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Terrell County, about $420,674 a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $28,256.

How many federal disasters has Terrell County had?

Terrell County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2026.

Is Terrell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 252nd 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 Terrell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Terrell 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 Terrell County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Terrell County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 2, 2024 near Sanderson. The weather service has also logged 118 hail reports and 43 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Terrell County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Terrell County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 55 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.