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Upton County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
223rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Upton County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 223rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $3.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $949 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No 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 Upton County

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 66 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$775,620 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.

Hail

Low
$187,504 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh94.1
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low7.1
$776K
HailLow47.9
$188K
TornadoVery Low16.5
$132K
Strong windVery Low12.1
$72K
Cold waveVery Low10.1
$59K
Heat waveVery Low17.9
$39K
LightningVery Low11.0
$29K
WildfireVery Low45.0
$27K
Winter weatherVery Low22.0
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low7.2
$5K
HurricaneVery Low16.4
$3K
Ice stormVery Low1.5
$479
LandslideVery Low2.8
$2

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 Upton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

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
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Show all 11
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 263 storm reports in Upton County since 1959 and about $2.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 30, 2024 near Midkiff.

20tornadoes
159hail reports, largest 4 inches
43damaging thunderstorm winds
40floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 2024EF2Midkiff0 / 0
Apr 26, 1960F2–0 / 0
Oct 2, 1986F1–0 / 0
Mar 22, 2000F1Rankin0 / 0
Jun 8, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 28, 1997HailMidkiff$900K
Jul 5, 1994HailCrane$505K
Jun 13, 2002Thunderstorm WindMidkiff$400K
Mar 22, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$100K
May 11, 1994HailMccamey$55K
May 25, 1994Thunderstorm WindMccamey$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 26, 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 1942, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Upton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 45 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 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 Upton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Upton County

$109,000median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.6%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; 1,683 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
Midland CountyModerate17
Ector CountyModerate13
Crane CountyVery Low10
Reagan CountyVery Low11
Crockett CountyVery Low14
Glasscock CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Upton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Upton County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Upton County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $775,620.

How many federal disasters has Upton County had?

Upton County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Upton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 223rd 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 Upton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Upton County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Upton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 30, 2024 near Midkiff. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 40 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Upton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Upton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 45 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.