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Yoakum County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
140th of 254highest risk in Texas
$8Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Yoakum County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 140th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,105 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 30 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $73,000 on 14 claims here.

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

Top risks in Yoakum County

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 79 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.4
$2M
DroughtHigh96.2
$2M
Cold waveModerate76.0
$2M
HailModerate90.3
$1M
WildfireLow86.5
$477K
Strong windModerate56.9
$385K
TornadoLow34.3
$379K
Heat waveVery Low26.9
$65K
LightningLow25.5
$53K
Winter weatherLow59.3
$51K
Ice stormVery Low20.9
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low14.0
$8K
HurricaneVery Low30.0
$8K
LandslideVery Low1.7
$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 Yoakum County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire3
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1992Excessive Rain & HailMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 240 storm reports in Yoakum County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $15.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 15, 1957.

26tornadoes
125hail reports, largest 4 inches
73damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1969F1–0 / 0
Mar 29, 1973F1–0 / 0
May 15, 1957F1–0 / 0
Mar 10, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 1997HailPlains$5M
Jun 2, 1996HailDenver City$3M
Jun 17, 2008HailPlains$2M
Oct 21, 2010HailPlains$2M
Oct 1, 2002HailPlains$750K
Jun 2, 1996HailDenver City$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Yoakum County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (30 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$72,632paid on 14 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $16,516 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 Yoakum County

$182,600median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.9%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; 3,028 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
Lea County, NMModerate5
Gaines CountyLow12
Hockley CountyLow14
Terry CountyLow13
Cochran CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Yoakum County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Yoakum County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Yoakum County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Yoakum County had?

Yoakum County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Yoakum County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 140th 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 Yoakum County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Yoakum 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 Yoakum County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Yoakum County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 15, 1957. The weather service has also logged 125 hail reports and 15 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.