13 flood insurance claims·$84,444 paid·2 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 Terry 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 and general flooding driven by slow-moving thunderstorms and upper-level storm systems dominate the flood risk in Terry County, Texas. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 11 flash flood events and 8 general flood events. Recent documented instances include a flash flood event in August 2022 caused by a nearly stationary upper-level storm system that pumped moist air into West Texas and inundated roadways, as well as widespread moderate to heavy rainfall from an intense mid-level storm system in November 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that claims have been filed across multiple zones. Zone A accounts for 7 claims with an average payout of $6,442 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Zone X Unshaded accounts for 3 claims with an average payout of $9,222 and an average recorded water depth of 5 inches, while properties with an unknown zone account for 3 claims with an average payout of $17,705 and an average recorded water depth of 2 inches.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the most attention to properties located in Zone A and unshaded Zone X areas, as these zones have historical claim activity and face localized inundation risks from heavy seasonal rainfall.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 3 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2005, with 4 claims and $13,679 paid, the year of Hurricane Katrina Evacuation and Hurricane Rita.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
10 NOAA storm reports from Terry County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Texas flood stories →
15 federal disaster declarations since 1992, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Wildfires | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Hurricane Alex | Jun 30, 2010 |
| Wildfires | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Sep 23, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
19 since 1996: 11 flash floods and 8 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Nov 17, 2024 | — |
| Flood | May 28, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2022 | — |
| Flood | Jul 15, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2018 | — |
| Flood | Apr 13, 2015 | $10,000 |
| Flood | May 4, 2015 | $20,000 |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2014 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Nov 17, 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 California, where strong jet…
Flood · May 28, 2023. Scattered supercell thunderstorms developed on the afternoon of the 28th and persisted through the evening producing several severe storms despite weak background forcing. Strong instability developed while the atmosphere became uncapped which allowed these supercell thunderstorms to develop. A slow moving storm near Vigo Park produced a brief tornado over an open field. More widespread thunderstorms evolved late…
Flash Flood · Aug 31, 2022. An upper level storm system became nearly stationary, centered close to El Paso, which allowed extremely moist air to continue to be pumped up into West Texas on the 31st. The near record moisture levels, along with the nearby upper level low, and weak daytime heating, initiated a round of westward-moving showers and thunderstorms that dumped torrential rain in spots adding to the already saturated soils. A number…
Flood · Jul 15, 2021. An upper level trough moved across the region during the afternoon of the 15th. This trough was also accompanied by a surface cold front that led to scattered thunderstorm development during the afternoon and evening hours. Ample atmospheric moisture combined with weak wind shear lead to slow moving efficient rain producers which led to several heavy rain reports. Additionally, very hot surface temperatures were c…
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 Terry 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.