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Wood County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
95th of 254highest risk in Texas
$15Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wood County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 95th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $339 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (63 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $154,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wood County

$5.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 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.

Ice storm

Very High
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.3
$6M
Cold waveModerate76.8
$2M
Ice stormVery High97.0
$2M
Strong windHigh90.9
$1M
Heat waveModerate84.9
$1M
HailModerate90.5
$1M
DroughtModerate81.3
$659K
TornadoLow39.7
$556K
HurricaneLow66.1
$266K
LightningLow52.8
$169K
WildfireLow73.2
$146K
EarthquakeVery Low45.8
$143K
Winter weatherModerate68.3
$80K
LandslideVery Low45.3
$636

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane5
Fire4
Severe Ice Storm3
Severe Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Apr 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Jan 8, 2006Hawkins FireFire management
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Show all 14
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 525 storm reports in Wood County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 18 injuries and about $66.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 24, 1962.

46tornadoes
165hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
243damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 24, 1962F3–8 / 0
May 3, 1979F3–0 / 0
Apr 29, 1994F2Emory To0 / 0
Oct 18, 1993F2Alba To0 / 0
May 6, 2003F2Mineola5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 26, 1994HailWinsboro$50M
Apr 29, 1994TornadoEmory To$5M
Mar 24, 1962Tornado–$3M
May 3, 1979Tornado–$3M
May 14, 2008Thunderstorm WindWinnsboro$1M
Oct 18, 1993Thunderstorm WindYantis$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 1871, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Wood County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 55 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Jun 5, 1871UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 Wood County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (63 policies)
14.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$154,315paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $88,117 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 Wood County

$216,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.7%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; 22,388 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
Smith CountyModerate30
Van Zandt CountyLow18
Upshur CountyLow21
Hopkins CountyLow19
Camp CountyVery Low13
Rains CountyVery Low15
Franklin CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Wood County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wood County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wood County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Wood County had?

Wood County has been included in 14 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 Wood County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 95th 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 Wood County?

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

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Wood County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 24, 1962. The weather service has also logged 165 hail reports and 67 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wood County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Wood County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 55 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.