Enter any address in Hockley County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in Hockley County. The NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 29 flash flood events and 17 general flood events in the county over the last 30 years. Recent examples include heavy rainfall in November 2024 and a severe thunderstorm event in June 2025 that produced flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while Zone A areas have had more claims (9), Zone X_Unshaded areas have experienced deeper water on average (4.0 ft compared to 0.9 ft in Zone A). Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_Unshaded areas, particularly those without a home built to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hockley County, Texas has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 26, 2024 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 25, 2025
Low level atmospheric moisture continued to increase for another consecutive day across the South Plains and Rolling Plains of West Texas on the afternoon of the 25th. Numerous outflow boundaries, a dryline, and a cold front provided a focus for thunderstorm initiation during the afternoon hours. Three rounds of severe storms affected the Texas South Plains region from the afternoon of the 25th...
Flash Flood — Jun 5, 2025
During the afternoon and evening hours of the fifth, an intense supercell thunderstorm moved over the South Plains region of West Texas, producing several tornadoes over portions of Cochran, Hockley, and Lubbock Counties. This thunderstorm also produced widespread damage from very strong straight-line winds and large hail across western and southwestern portions of the City of Lubbock (Lubbock ...
Flash Flood — Nov 18, 2024
Widespread moderate to heavy rain fell on much of the South Plains and Rolling Plains region from late on the 17th through the early morning hours of the 18th. An intense mid level storm system in combination with abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific brought this heavy rainfall. This storm system initially strengthened over southern California and the northern Gulf of Californi...
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2023
A storm system approached the region from the southern Rockies and Desert Southwest. In addition, rich Gulf of Mexico moisture spread northward into the South Plains. As lift from the disturbance reached the moisture, scattered thunderstorms developed across the southwest Texas Panhandle and western South Plains on the afternoon of the 30th. The thunderstorms grew upscale into clusters and even...
Flood — Jun 2, 2023
A strong short wave trough moving through New Mexico on the afternoon of the second provided a large amount of large scale lift to the region allowing for widespread thunderstorm activity. Very steep mid-level lapse rates, strong surface heating, and ample low level moisture created a very unstable atmosphere by early afternoon. Initial thunderstorm development early in the afternoon was unable...
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 Hockley 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 Hockley 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.