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Uvalde County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
82nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$20Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 50homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Uvalde County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $832 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (214 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.7 million on 130 claims here, including $3.7 million for floods in 2026.

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

Top risks in Uvalde County

$15.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 145 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.3
$16M
DroughtModerate90.1
$1M
Heat waveModerate81.9
$1M
TornadoLow50.9
$909K
HailLow69.8
$392K
Cold waveLow31.4
$321K
LightningModerate63.9
$278K
Strong windLow27.7
$190K
HurricaneLow62.4
$189K
WildfireLow73.2
$159K
Winter weatherLow56.7
$58K
Ice stormVery Low24.4
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low15.6
$13K
LandslideVery Low34.0
$298

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 Uvalde County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm3
Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Freezing1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
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
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jan 9, 1990Severe FreezeMajor disaster

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 421 storm reports in Uvalde County since 1959, with 4 deaths and 71 injuries and about $10.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 19, 2006 near Uvalde.

15tornadoes
170hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
85damaging thunderstorm winds
151floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 19, 2006F2Uvalde0 / 0
Sep 15, 1996F2Utopia1 / 0
May 1, 1959F2–0 / 0
May 19, 1975F2–0 / 0
Mar 27, 1999F1Concan0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 16, 2026Flash FloodBlewitt$3M
Mar 19, 2006Thunderstorm WindUvalde$2M
Mar 19, 2006TornadoUvalde$2M
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Mar 19, 2002Thunderstorm WindCountywide$350K
Mar 19, 2002HailUvalde$250K

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 1851, 1 hurricane and 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Uvalde County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 75 mph about 59 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
2003most recent: Claudette

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Jun 26, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 75 mph59 mi
Jun 26, 1954AliceTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 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 Uvalde County

Check your address flood zone ›
2%of homes have federal flood insurance (214 policies)
18.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.7 millionpaid on 130 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $3.7 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 Uvalde County

$150,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 10,095 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
Maverick CountyLow14
Medina CountyLow18
Bandera CountyLow16
Frio CountyLow17
Zavala CountyLow18
Kinney CountyVery Low14
Real CountyVery Low18
Edwards CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Uvalde County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Uvalde County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Uvalde County, about $15.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Uvalde County had?

Uvalde County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Uvalde County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 82nd 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 Uvalde County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Uvalde 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 Uvalde County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Uvalde County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 19, 2006 near Uvalde. The weather service has also logged 170 hail reports and 151 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Uvalde County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Uvalde County. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 75 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.