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Tyler County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
104th of 254highest risk in Texas
$14Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tyler County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 104th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $713 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (116 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.8 million on 187 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Tyler County

$5.6 million 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.6 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 floodingLow59.1
$6M
HurricaneModerate88.6
$4M
TornadoModerate70.6
$2M
Cold waveModerate67.5
$1M
WildfireLow85.9
$491K
LightningModerate72.1
$342K
Heat waveLow57.5
$334K
Strong windLow42.1
$278K
Ice stormModerate73.4
$169K
HailVery Low31.8
$83K
EarthquakeVery Low29.6
$46K
Winter weatherLow40.2
$29K
LandslideVery Low44.1
$567

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 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 Tyler County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Flood7
Fire7
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm2
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 30
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 5, 2000Tx - Warren Chapel Fire - 09/04/00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1989Tropical Storm AllisonMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 298 storm reports in Tyler County since 1962, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries and about $80.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on December 10, 1983.

23tornadoes
102hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
135damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 1983F2–4 / 0
Feb 20, 1967F2–0 / 0
Jan 29, 1999F2Spurger0 / 0
Mar 12, 1999F1Warren0 / 0
Nov 23, 2004F1Fred0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2017Flash FloodChester$60M
Mar 10, 2016Flash FloodDam Res$14M
Dec 10, 1983Tornado–$3M
Mar 10, 2016FloodDam Res$700K
Feb 20, 1967Tornado–$250K
Sep 27, 1996Flash FloodWoodville$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 1865, 12 hurricanes and 24 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tyler County, 21 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 115 mph about 64 miles away.

12hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
24tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyCategory 2, 110 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi
Jun 14, 1886UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi
Aug 5, 2008EdouardTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2007HumbertoCategory 1, 85 mph62 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 Tyler County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (116 policies)
10.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.8 millionpaid on 187 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $1.3 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 Tyler County

$157,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.3%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; 9,518 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
Angelina CountyLow20
Hardin CountyLow29
Polk CountyLow27
Jasper CountyLow30

Common questions about Tyler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tyler County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tyler County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Tyler County had?

Tyler County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Tyler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 104th 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 Tyler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Tyler 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 Tyler County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Tyler County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on December 10, 1983. The weather service has also logged 102 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tyler County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 24 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tyler County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 115 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.