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Wilson County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
67th of 254highest risk in Texas
$32Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wilson County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $643 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (173 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 71 claims here, including $967,000 for floods in 1998.

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

Top risks in Wilson County

$22.8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million 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
Inland floodingModerate84.4
$23M
TornadoModerate78.0
$3M
HailModerate88.3
$1M
DroughtModerate87.6
$1M
Heat waveLow73.9
$1M
Cold waveLow43.0
$675K
Strong windLow48.8
$488K
LightningModerate66.6
$399K
HurricaneLow63.8
$286K
WildfireLow71.7
$180K
Winter weatherLow54.4
$68K
Ice stormLow32.8
$35K
EarthquakeVery Low15.3
$15K
LandslideVery Low12.8
$40

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane4
Severe Storm3
Flood3
Fire3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 16
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 242 storm reports in Wilson County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 125 injuries and about $43.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on October 30, 2015 near Floresville.

19tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 4 inches
58damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 30, 2015EF2Floresville0 / 0
May 18, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 19, 2000F1La Vernia0 / 0
Jun 3, 2003F1Saspamco0 / 0
Jul 26, 2020EF0Sutherland Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 18, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$35M
Aug 30, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Oct 30, 2015TornadoFloresville$2M
Sep 10, 2020Flash FloodPoth$1M
Jul 20, 2007Flash FloodFloresville$500K
May 20, 2001HailStockdale$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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, 8 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Wilson County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 125 mph about 60 miles away.

8hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2017most recent: Harvey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph60 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 1961CarlaCategory 1, 90 mph64 mi
Sep 17, 1875UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 1, 85 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 1, 85 mph63 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 11, 1998FrancesTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 4, 1970CeliaCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Jun 24, 1968CandyTropical storm, 65 mph64 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 Wilson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (173 policies)
16.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2 millionpaid on 71 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $967,142 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 Wilson County

$321,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2000median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
17%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.3%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; 19,480 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
Bexar CountyHigh30
Guadalupe CountyModerate21
Atascosa CountyLow19
Gonzales CountyModerate20
Karnes CountyLow14

Common questions about Wilson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wilson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wilson County, about $22.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Wilson County had?

Wilson County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2026.

Is Wilson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 67th 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 Wilson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Wilson 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 Wilson County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Wilson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on October 30, 2015 near Floresville. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 71 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wilson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 8 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Wilson County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 125 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.