Enter any address in Yoakum County, Texas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the primary flood concern in Yoakum County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 11 flash flood events and 4 flood events. Recent examples include scattered thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall on May 28, 2023, and widespread thunderstorms causing flooding on May 10, 2022. Earlier, on April 13, 2015, slow-moving showers dropped as much as seven inches of rain in a three-hour period across parts of Yoakum and Terry Counties, leading to documented widespread flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flood claims, with an average of nine claims resulting in an average payout of $6,741 and an average water depth of 0.7 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those located in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation from slow-moving or intense thunderstorms, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Yoakum County, Texas has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 12 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1992–2021)
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 | 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 |
| Tropical Storm Charley | Severe Storm | Aug 22, 1998 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 10, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 13, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 2, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 8, 2007 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2005 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2004 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2004 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 5, 2004 | — |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2004 | — |
Flash 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 thunder...
Flood — May 10, 2022
Widespread severe thunderstorms developed on the afternoon of the tenth as a weak upper level disturbance ejected overhead northward out of Mexico. The initial activity rapidly developed near the dryline, which was located near the Texas/New Mexico line, late Tuesday afternoon. Aided by strong instability, several of the storms quickly became severe mostly producing severe thunderstorm winds. T...
Flood — Apr 13, 2015
Numerous slow moving showers and thunderstorms developed this morning north of an upper low located over the western Permian Basin. One particularly intense band of rainfall trained northwestward across western Terry and eastern Yoakum Counties late this morning for nearly three hours. Rainfall totals underneath this band measured as great as seven inches at the Tokio (Terry County) COOP gin. T...
Flood — Jul 2, 2014
An early morning upper level disturbance combined with moist upslope flow, aided by a nearby frontal boundary, to produce showers and thunderstorms. Portions of Parmer County in and around Bovina received between 4 to 6 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts estimated by radar. High water plagued area roadways causing multiple reports of traffic related issues. Showers and thunderstorm...
Flood — May 8, 2007
A complex of strong thunderstorms rolled across the South Plains region of west Texas during the overnight hours of the 7th and early morning hours of the 8th. One storm within the complex became severe, and produced large hail over Childress. |With a powerful upper level storm system still located over the desert southwest, additional convective complexes moved eastward out of New Mexico durin...
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 Yoakum 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 Yoakum 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.