10 flood insurance claims·$186,914 paid·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 Wilbarger 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 storms and training weather systems dominates the flood character of Wilbarger County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 14 flash flood events compared to 4 general flood events.
Recent occurrences illustrate this pattern. On May 19, 2018, storms moving southeast from Oklahoma produced training that resulted in flooding. Similarly, on March 28, 2017, slow-moving storms and extensive shower coverage formed across Oklahoma and western north Texas, leading to flash flooding alongside severe weather and a tornado.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that property owners in designated flood hazard areas face significant risk. Specifically, properties in Zone A averaged payouts of $45,000 with an average recorded water depth of 12 inches. Properties with unknown zone designations averaged $20,273 per claim with an average recorded water depth of 5 inches. Homeowners and real estate professionals should pay the closest attention to properties located within Zone A and areas lacking clear flood zone determinations.
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 6 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 1995, with 5 claims and $107,698 paid.
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.
1 NOAA storm reports from Wilbarger County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Texas flood stories →
17 federal disaster declarations since 1979, 1 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 |
| Waggoner Ranch Fire | Apr 29, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Jun 16, 2007 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Nov 27, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
18 since 1996: 14 flash floods and 4 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2007 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2007 | — |
| Flood | Aug 26, 2006 | — |
| Flood | Oct 16, 2006 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · May 19, 2018. An area of storms formed across Oklahoma along and around a stationary front (several other lingering boundaries contributed as well) on the afternoon of the 19th. These storms moved southeast into the night with some training resulting in flooding.
Flash Flood · Mar 28, 2017. An area of storms formed across Oklahoma and western north Texas in the vicinity of several fronts/boundaries overnight on the 28th into early 29th. Besides severe weather and a tornado, slow moving storms and extensive shower coverage also led to flash flooding.
Flash Flood · May 18, 2017. A line of storms fired along and just ahead of a dryline and cold front on the afternoon of the 18th and continued eastward across the state overnight into the 19th.
Flash Flood · Jun 2, 2017. An area of thunderstorms formed in the early morning in central Texas, then expanded into southwest Oklahoma early on the 2nd. With high rain rates, these storms produced 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 Wilbarger 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.