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Terry County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
132nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$12Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Terry County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 132nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,033 per resident. Since 1992 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 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $84,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Terry County

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.4 million 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.

Hail

High
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 102 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate88.4
$4M
HailHigh97.0
$3M
DroughtHigh94.8
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low11.7
$1M
TornadoLow54.5
$1M
Strong windModerate60.7
$534K
Heat waveVery Low29.6
$95K
Winter weatherModerate61.8
$69K
LightningLow24.1
$60K
WildfireVery Low58.7
$55K
Ice stormLow30.5
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low16.4
$14K
HurricaneVery Low31.3
$11K
LandslideVery Low0.9
$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 Terry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2010Hurricane AlexMajor 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 13
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor 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 344 storm reports in Terry County since 1955 and about $61.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 3, 1981.

36tornadoes
204hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
80damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 3, 1981F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1961F2–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1971F2–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1971F2–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 21, 2010HailTokio$15M
Oct 21, 2010HailBrownfield$15M
Jun 11, 1997HailNeedmore$5M
Oct 21, 2010HailTokio$5M
Sep 7, 2003HailBrownfield$4M
Jun 11, 1999HailTokio$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 Terry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$84,444paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $45,000 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 Terry County

$105,400median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9%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; 4,789 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
Lubbock CountyHigh18
Gaines CountyLow12
Hockley CountyLow14
Dawson CountyVery Low14
Yoakum CountyLow10
Lynn CountyVery Low16
Cochran CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Terry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Terry County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Terry County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Terry County had?

Terry County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Terry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 132nd 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 Terry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Terry 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 Terry County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Terry County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 3, 1981. The weather service has also logged 204 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.