Natural Disasters in Texas: History & Risk Data
227,502 recorded disaster events across 1,845 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Texas
📊 Texas Disaster Profile
Texas has one of the most extensive natural disaster records in the United States, with 227,502 documented events spread across 1,845 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $911.7B. A total of 47,023 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Texas's disaster profile with 151,068 events (66%), causing $138.2B in property damage. Other significant hazards include tornadoes (19,499 events, $68.1B in damages), floods (16,764 events, $341.7B in damages), and extreme heat events (13,670 events, $5.9M in damages).
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Texas include ZIP 79118 (843 events, $713.6M in damages), ZIP 79108 (650 events, $273M in damages), and ZIP 79124 (630 events, $615.9M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Texas has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 409% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2023 stands out as particularly active, with 11,446 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Texas
What natural disasters occur in Texas?
Texas has experienced 227,502 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (151,068), tornadoes (19,499), floods (16,764), extreme heat events (13,670), severe wind events (10,722), blizzards (9,933), extreme cold events (2,757), earthquakes (1,909), wildfires (695), and hurricanes (485). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 66% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Texas?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Texas are ZIP 79118 (843 events), ZIP 79108 (650 events), ZIP 79124 (630 events), ZIP 79226 (592 events), and ZIP 79706 (584 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Texas?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $911.7B in property damage across Texas. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →