Enter any address in Ector County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Ector County. Between 1996 and 2026, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 157 flash flood events and 3 general flood events. For example, flash flooding and water rescues occurred in Odessa on July 9, 2025, following the passage of a decaying MCS. Urban flooding was also reported in Odessa on August 29, 2025, due to thunderstorms.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have a moderate to high flood risk, accounted for 125 claims with an average payout of $12,539 and an average water depth of 2.4 feet. Properties in Zone X, designated as having a low to moderate flood risk, had 20 claims with a higher average payout of $23,823 and an average water depth of 3.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X where higher water depths were observed, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
77 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ector County, Texas has recorded 160 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 157 flash floods and 3 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 (1989–2021)
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 |
| Pleasant Farms Fire | Fire | Apr 26, 2011 |
| Bates Field Fire | Fire | Apr 3, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Mar 14, 2008 |
| South Odessa Fire | Fire | Feb 25, 2008 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Fire | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 80.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 17, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2024 | 20.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2025
A stationary boundary draped across Southeast New Mexico and West Texas became a focus for shower and thunderstorm development during the afternoon of the 29th. A few storms produced damaging wind gusts, and some urban flooding was reported in Odessa.
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2025
A cold front/outflow boundary, coupled with vorticity maxima in the northwesterly flow aloft, resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms in the Permian Basin of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico during the evening and overnight hours on June 9th. Supercells formed initially, but storms eventually grew upscale later that night. These storms produced multiple instances of severe winds ...
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2025
An MCS (which originated in southwestern Oklahoma and northern Texas) moved into the northern Permian Basin during the early morning hours of the 9th. Though the system was weakening as it moved into the Permian Basin, it was able to produce damaging winds in Snyder. Flash flooding and water rescues were also reported in Odessa due to heavy rain associated with the decaying MCS.
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2025
Anomalously high moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry encouraged the development of tropical downpours across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. These downpours resulted in Flash Flooding for portions of the area.
Flash Flood — Nov 17, 2024
A large trough over northern Mexico moved into the southern Great Plains from the evening of November 27 into the morning of November 28. This system caused high winds across the Guadalupe Mountains. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms formed ahead of this trough, producing areas of flash flooding, hail, and damaging wind gusts.
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 Ector 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 Ector 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.