1 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Glasscock County, Texas. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms dominates the flood risk profile in Glasscock County, TX, with the NOAA Storm Events Database recording 25 flash flood events over the last 30 years.
These events are typically driven by upper-level troughs, jet stream dynamics, and moisture supplied from the region, combined with drylines and instability that trigger heavy rainfall and severe weather. For example, severe weather systems on May 30, 2016, and October 8, 2018, produced flash flooding alongside strong winds, hail, and tornadoes across the area.
Because official FEMA claim distribution data by zone is unavailable for this jurisdiction, property owners, real estate agents, and local journalists should rely on local topography, historical event patterns, and drainage characteristics to assess individual property exposure to flash flooding.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
5 NOAA storm reports from Glasscock County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Texas flood stories →
13 federal disaster declarations since 1993, 1 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Wildfires | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Sep 23, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Extreme Fire Hazards | Aug 1, 1999 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
25 since 1996: 25 flash floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2008 | — |
| Flash Flood | Mar 11, 2007 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2006 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2005 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Oct 8, 2018. An upper level trough was centered near the Four Corners region which brought an increase in upper level lift across West Texas. The area was in a favorable position under the upper level jet stream which also aided in lift. A plentiful supply of moisture was in place and wind shear was favorable for thunderstorm development across West Texas. These conditions resulted in strong winds, hail, flash flooding, and a…
Flash Flood · May 30, 2016. An upper trough was off the Pacific coast and was moving inland over California and Arizona. This put West Texas and southeast New Mexico under southwest winds aloft. A dryline was backed up against the mountains leaving good moisture with 50 degree dewpoints off to the east. The dryline and boundaries across the area became the focus for thunderstorms. Lapse rates and instability were high, which aided in th…
Flash Flood · Jun 13, 2008. An upper level high pressure system centered across northern Mexico and west Texas began shifting westward. Meanwhile, westerly mid-level flow on the northern periphery of this system steered a weak upper level disturbance towards the region. This, in combination with the presence of instability and abundant moisture, set the stage for thunderstorm development across Permian Basin and Western Low Rolling Plains.
Flash Flood · Mar 11, 2007. First tornado watch/severe weather event for the season. An upper level storm system approaching west Texas and southeastern New Mexico set off severe thunderstorms across the area on March 11. Copious amounts of mid and low level moisture contributed to high rainfall totals and instances of flash flooding.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Glasscock County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.