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Wheeler County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
145th of 254highest risk in Texas
$9Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Wheeler County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 145th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,804 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 7 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 Wheeler County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 66 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 50 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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
DroughtHigh97.7
$3M
WildfireModerate94.3
$2M
TornadoLow59.2
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low7.7
$736K
Strong windModerate66.0
$601K
Cold waveLow39.4
$448K
HailLow71.1
$406K
Ice stormModerate79.8
$279K
Winter weatherModerate67.6
$83K
EarthquakeVery Low31.7
$63K
LightningVery Low23.3
$56K
Heat waveVery Low13.3
$20K
HurricaneVery Low23.4
$6K
LandslideVery Low1.1
$1

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 Wheeler County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2009Magic City FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 12
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 566 storm reports in Wheeler County since 1955, with 1 death and 27 injuries and about $18.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1995 near Kellerville.

59tornadoes
381hail reports, largest 5.5 inches
103damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1995F4Kellerville0 / 0
Jun 8, 1995F4Allison0 / 0
May 25, 1955F4–5 / 0
Jun 4, 1965F3–1 / 1
Jun 11, 1997F3Kellerville13 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 1995TornadoKellerville$10M
Jun 8, 1995TornadoAllison$3M
Jun 11, 1997TornadoKellerville$2M
Jul 5, 1994Thunderstorm WindShamrock$500K
Jun 25, 2026Thunderstorm WindWheeler$350K
Apr 23, 1973Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 25, 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.

Flood insurance in Wheeler County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$29,964paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $29,964 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 Wheeler County

$106,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.1%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; 2,606 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
Beckham County, OKLow26
Gray CountyLow14
Roger Mills County, OKVery Low30
Hemphill CountyVery Low12
Donley CountyVery Low16
Collingsworth CountyVery Low12
Roberts CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Wheeler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wheeler County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Wheeler County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Wheeler County had?

Wheeler County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Wheeler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 145th 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 Wheeler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Wheeler 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 Wheeler County had?

NOAA records list 59 tornadoes in Wheeler County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1995 near Kellerville. The weather service has also logged 381 hail reports and 20 floods here.

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.