Enter any address in Deaf Smith County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Deaf Smith County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 19 flash flood events and 6 flood events. For example, in late May 2023, slow-moving thunderstorms produced rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour, leading to fast-rising waters in Hereford and surrounding areas. Another event in June 2025 saw severe thunderstorms contribute to localized flooding.
NFIP claims data indicates that while most claims are in zones with unknown flood risk, properties in Zone A and Zone X_Unshaded have experienced significant payouts, suggesting a higher risk of substantial damage in these areas, even with no reported water depth in some cases. Homeowners in areas identified as Zone A or Zone X_Unshaded, as well as those in areas with unknown flood designations, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Deaf Smith County, Texas has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1992–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Fire | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 4, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 8, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 23, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 4, 2025
During the early to late evening hours on the 4th of June severe thunderstorms moved through the southwest to south central Texas Panhandle. The main supercell that moved in first from eastern New Mexico, quickly intensified in Deaf Smith County, where it briefly produced a weak tornado that overturned a couple of irrigation pivots. The storm then continued to produce ping pong ball to even an ...
Flash Flood — May 27, 2023
The end of May was unusually warm and moist this year. With abundant moisture and lift late in the evening of the 26th a couple of storms that were long lived and slow moving developed across portions of Deaf Smith County. These thunderstorms produced rainfall rates around 2��� to 3��� an hour over an area that received upwards of 3��� the night before. This led to fast rising...
Flash Flood — May 26, 2023
During the late evening of May 25th a line of thunderstorms moved into the northwest combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles moving south to southeast into much of the western combined Panhandles. One of the storms became severe producing hail upwards of 1.5 in diameter near Texline, Texas. As this line of storms continued southward, discrete supercell storms developed in eastern New Mexico arou...
Flood — Jul 17, 2021
On the evening of the 17th of July 2021, thunderstorms formed over higher terrain in northeast New Mexico and southeast Colorado. These storms moved southeast into the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. The atmospheric instability was sufficient to support a few severe storms with large hail and damaging winds in addition to locally heavy rainfall.
Flood — Mar 22, 2019
A strong upper level system moved across New Mexico approaching the western panhandles by the evening of the 22nd. Out ahead of the main upper level system, low level moisture along with sufficient instability allowed thunderstorms to develop. Initial thunderstorm development was super-cellular where large hail and damaging winds were reported along with 2 tornadoes across the western TX Panhan...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Deaf Smith County, Texas:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Deaf Smith County, Texas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.