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Webb County, Texas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
25th of 254highest risk in Texas
$46Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Webb County, Texas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $46 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $174 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (484 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.8 million on 269 claims here, including $3.4 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Webb County

$25.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$7.9 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.
$6.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate91.0
$25M
Cold waveHigh96.1
$8M
Heat waveHigh97.4
$7M
HurricaneModerate85.7
$2M
TornadoModerate76.9
$2M
HailModerate89.6
$984K
Strong windModerate55.5
$379K
LightningLow55.8
$168K
EarthquakeVery Low44.2
$117K
Winter weatherModerate77.8
$109K
Ice stormModerate66.3
$106K
WildfireLow63.8
$66K
DroughtLow38.3
$33K
LandslideVery Low57.0
$1K

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 Webb County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane10
Fire3
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Apr 5, 2011El Cenizo FireFire management
Aug 3, 2010Hurricane AlexMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 21
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
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
Sep 26, 2002Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Aug 22, 1999Hurricane BretMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 20, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 414 storm reports in Webb County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 0 injuries and about $69.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 25, 1959.

10tornadoes
158hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
107damaging thunderstorm winds
116floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 25, 1959F3–0 / 0
Apr 5, 1961F2–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jul 14, 1983F1–0 / 0
Sep 10, 1962F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 2003Thunderstorm WindLaredo$33M
May 21, 2017Thunderstorm WindLaredo Intl Arp$20M
Jul 8, 2010FloodLaredo Intl Arp$5M
Jul 27, 2012Flash FloodLake Casa Blanca$2M
May 14, 2006Thunderstorm WindLaredo Intl Arpt$2M
Jun 17, 2007Flash FloodLaredo$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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, 4 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Webb County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with top winds near 90 mph about 63 miles away.

4hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2023most recent: Harold

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Aug 19, 1916UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph49 mi
Sep 15, 1919UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi
Aug 13, 1880UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 21, 1967BeulahTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 22, 2023HaroldTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Jul 24, 2008DollyTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Jul 16, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 23, 1999BretTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 10, 1980AllenCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Sep 12, 1971FernTropical storm, 40 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 Webb County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (484 policies)
14.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.8 millionpaid on 269 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $3.4 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 Webb County

$189,900median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
24%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.1%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; 88,176 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
Zapata CountyVery Low13
Duval CountyLow19
Dimmit CountyVery Low17
La Salle CountyVery Low17
Jim Hogg CountyLow21
McMullen CountyVery Low15

Cities in Webb County

Common questions about Webb County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Webb County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Webb County, about $25.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $7.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Webb County had?

Webb County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2026.

Is Webb County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 25th 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 Webb County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Webb 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 Webb County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Webb County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 25, 1959. The weather service has also logged 158 hail reports and 116 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Webb County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 4 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Webb County. The strongest was Hurricane Celia (1970), with winds near 90 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.