Enter any address in Irion County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood hazard in Irion County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 20 flash flood events, along with 4 general flood events and 1 tropical depression. For example, on August 17, 2021, slow-moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rain, leading to flash flooding in areas like Mertzon. Another significant rainfall event occurred in early September 2024, with localized amounts exceeding 10 inches in nearby counties, indicating the potential for substantial inundation.
While most flood insurance claims in Irion County have been filed in Zone X, these claims have resulted in average payouts of $6,705 with an average water depth of 49.0 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to rapid water level increases, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) designation, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
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.
Irion County, Texas has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1993–2021)
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 |
| 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 |
| Extreme Fire Hazards | Fire | Aug 1, 1999 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Depression | Aug 16, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2006 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 13, 2005 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2004 | — |
Flash Flood — Sep 3, 2024
A significant heavy rainfall event occurred early in the month across mainly the Concho Valley, northern Heartland and southern Big Country due to a slow moving upper level storm system and a very moist tropical airmass, which was near record levels for early September. Numerous showers and a few thunderstorms produced localized heavy rainfall amounts greater than 10 inches across portions of n...
Flash Flood — May 19, 2021
Isolated dryline thunderstorms developed on the evening of May 16, well in advance of an approaching upper level low. These storms produced an EF-0 tornado on the north side of Anson, and large hail and damaging winds in Fisher and Haskell Counties. An approaching upper low from New Mexico interacted with a warm front on May 17, and produced a long track EF2 tornado across northern Sterling C...
Flash Flood — Aug 17, 2021
The combination of abundant tropical moisture and a weak upper level disturbance produced a complex of slow moving thunderstorms across the Concho Valley. As a result, very heavy rain fell in a short period of time on the morning of August 17 and produced flash flooding in San Angelo and Mertzon. Also, radar rainfall estimates were 9 to 10 inches in northwest Tom Green County, just west of OC F...
Flash Flood — May 8, 2019
Daytime heating, an approaching upper level low pressure system and a dryline across West Central Texas triggered the development of a few supercell thunderstorms. These storms continued to form until shortly after midnight on May 8. These severe storms produced baseball size hail near Sonora and damaging thunderstorm wind gust reports across the area.
Flood — Sep 21, 2018
A slow moving upper and surface trough, an abundance of Gulf of Mexico moisture, and remnants of moisture from a dying Pacific tropical cyclone resulted in devastating flash flooding in part of West Central Texas. The town of Sonora along the Dry Devil's Draw was hardest hit by a wall of water and subsequent flash flooding.
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 Irion 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 Irion 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.