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Victoria County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
31st of 254highest risk in Texas
$53Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 36homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Victoria County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $53 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $585 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 36 homes here carry federal flood insurance (939 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 744 claims here.

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

Top risks in Victoria County

$25.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.
$12 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$6.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneHigh96.2
$26M
Inland floodingLow71.2
$12M
Cold waveHigh90.9
$7M
TornadoModerate85.2
$5M
Heat waveModerate82.4
$1M
DroughtModerate90.0
$1M
LightningModerate71.8
$459K
Strong windLow36.9
$323K
HailLow55.9
$286K
WildfireLow76.5
$261K
Ice stormModerate63.9
$138K
Winter weatherLow51.8
$59K
EarthquakeVery Low26.5
$44K
Coastal floodingVery Low27.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low9.4
$21

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Victoria County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane13
Severe Storm4
Flood4
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Jul 24, 2008Hurricane DollyMajor disaster
Show all 26
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
Apr 12, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 415 storm reports in Victoria County since 1954, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $36.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 5, 1968.

39tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
179damaging thunderstorm winds
73floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 5, 1968F3–2 / 0
May 1, 2026EF1Dacosta0 / 0
May 13, 1982F1–0 / 0
Oct 22, 1954F1–1 / 0
Apr 27, 1962F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 27, 2017FloodMission Vly$20M
Jul 6, 2021Heavy RainVictoria Rgnl A$10M
Jul 2, 2007Flash FloodVictoria$1M
Nov 21, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$706K
May 15, 2010Flash FloodMission Vly$700K
May 1, 2026TornadoDacosta$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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, 19 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Victoria County, 12 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 150 mph about 59 miles away.

19hurricanes
5major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph59 mi
Sep 11, 1961CarlaCategory 4, 145 mph63 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph65 mi
Aug 27, 1945UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 1875UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylCategory 1, 90 mph60 mi
Sep 21, 2020BetaTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph65 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteCategory 1, 90 mph58 mi
Sep 7, 2002FayTropical storm, 60 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 Victoria County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (939 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11.3 millionpaid on 744 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $2.5 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 Victoria County

$209,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%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; 39,481 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
Lavaca CountyLow17
Calhoun CountyLow26
DeWitt CountyModerate20
Jackson CountyLow21
Goliad CountyVery Low19
Refugio CountyVery Low26

Cities in Victoria County

Common questions about Victoria County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Victoria County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Victoria County, about $25.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $12 million.

How many federal disasters has Victoria County had?

Victoria County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Victoria County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 31st 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 Victoria County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 36 homes in Victoria 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 Victoria County had?

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Victoria County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 5, 1968. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 73 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Victoria County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Victoria County, including 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 150 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.