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Young County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
155th of 254highest risk in Texas
$11Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Young County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 155th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $606 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (56 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $498,000 on 84 claims here.

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

Top risks in Young County

$3.9 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 69 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 140 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low34.9
$4M
DroughtHigh92.3
$2M
WildfireModerate90.1
$1M
TornadoLow49.8
$1M
Strong windModerate64.7
$784K
HailModerate74.7
$652K
Heat waveLow59.8
$538K
Cold waveLow31.5
$428K
EarthquakeVery Low27.2
$53K
HurricaneVery Low41.9
$33K
LightningVery Low10.4
$33K
Winter weatherLow32.0
$31K
Ice stormLow29.7
$29K
LandslideVery Low53.0
$2K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire7
Severe Storm4
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 16, 2011Pk East FireFire management
Apr 16, 2011Hohertz FireFire management
Apr 15, 2011Pk West FireFire management
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 592 storm reports in Young County since 1951, with 2 deaths and 116 injuries and about $1.2 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1951.

52tornadoes
353hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
140damaging thunderstorm winds
40floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 18, 1951F4–100 / 2
Apr 30, 2000F3Olney0 / 0
Jun 6, 1979F3–2 / 0
Apr 21, 1985F3–0 / 0
May 29, 1994F3Olney To0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 1995Thunderstorm WindNorth Centraltexas$1.2B
Jul 5, 2026Thunderstorm WindOlney Muni Arpt$10M
May 18, 1951Tornado–$3M
Oct 2, 1998TornadoGraham$700K
Apr 25, 1994HailGraham$500K
Mar 4, 2004TornadoSouth Bend$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Young County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 55 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph62 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 Young County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (56 policies)
9.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$497,996paid on 84 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $90,214 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 Young County

$175,800median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 8,545 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
Palo Pinto CountyLow25
Stephens CountyVery Low21
Archer CountyVery Low19
Jack CountyVery Low17
Baylor CountyVery Low17
Throckmorton CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Young County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Young County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Young County, about $3.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Young County had?

Young County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Young County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 155th 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 Young County?

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

NOAA records list 52 tornadoes in Young County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1951. The weather service has also logged 353 hail reports and 40 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Young County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Young County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, 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.