3 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 Mills 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 slow-moving thunderstorms and frontal systems dominates the flood history of Mills County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database records 30 flash flood events compared to just two general flood events.
Recent weather patterns illustrate this severe flash flood risk. In May 2024, a cold front and strong jet stream brought widespread thunderstorm activity, large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding to the area. Another significant event occurred in July 2025, when a lingering upper trough and a saturated atmosphere produced slow-moving storms and numerous flash flooding episodes across Central Texas.
Property owners and real estate professionals should pay the closest attention to areas prone to rapid stormwater accumulation during heavy downpours.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
2 NOAA storm reports from Mills County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Texas flood stories →
17 federal disaster declarations since 1990, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Apr 26, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Wildfires | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Jun 16, 2007 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Sep 23, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
32 since 1996: 30 flash floods and 2 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2024 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2016 | — |
| Flood | May 13, 2015 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2014 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2010 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jul 7, 2025. From the July 4th weekend into the early part of the following week, a weak upper trough lingered over North and Central Texas, triggering several days of scattered showers and thunderstorms. A saturated atmosphere combined with slow storm motions resulted in numerous flash flooding events throughout the region, particularly in Central Texas.
Flash Flood · May 22, 2024. Isolated thunderstorms associated with the dryline occurred on May 21. Much more widespread thunderstorm activity took place on May 22 as a cold front sagged south into the area and a strong jet stream developed aloft. Large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding affected several locations on the 22nd. An EF2 tornado occurred in the Temple area of Central Texas, causing significant damage and injuring dozens of…
Flash Flood · May 4, 2024. A shortwave trough and a cold front led to the development of scattered to numerous thunderstorms May 4 and 5. Heavy rain causing flash flooding was the main impact during these days. Unfortunately one flash flood fatality occurred in Johnson County.
Flash Flood · May 10, 2016. A weak cold front eased south to near the Red River area, and helped provide focus for thunderstorm development along with a continued active dryline. This ended up being more of a wind damage event, but several reports of hail were also received.
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 Mills 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.