Ector County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Moderate natural hazard risk, led by hail. 714 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $46.4M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 714
- Most often hail
- Flood insurance policies
- 830
- 1.5% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 1 tropical storm or stronger since 1942
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Moderate
Score 82.8 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 44.9 of 100
Community resilience
Very Low
Score 14.7 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $32.4B · Agriculture value exposed: $4.4M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $51.7M
Risk by hazard
- HailRelatively High$13M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
- Winter weatherVery High$981K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.7 events a year
- WildfireRelatively Low$1M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 458 years
- Strong windRelatively High$1.7M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.5 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Moderate$2.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.1 events a year
- LightningRelatively High$914K/yr expected annual loss, about 43 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- Ice stormRelatively Moderate$291K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Cold waveRelatively Moderate$1.9M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- DroughtRelatively Low$251K/yr expected annual loss, about 72 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$152K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,322 years
- HurricaneVery Low$21.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 174 years
- LandslideVery Low$2/yr expected annual loss, about once every 13 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 830 of 56,920 (1.5%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 5,938
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 766 (13%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 187
- Claims paid since 1978
- $2.5M
Flood claims paid per year
- 2025 July Central TX Flooding$20.7K · 1 claim
- Flooding$12.4K · 1 claim
- Tropical Storm Claudette$7,085 · 1 claim
- Early summer severe storms$374 · 1 claim
- Torrential rain$0 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 714 events, 1 death, $305M in damage
- Hail289
- Flash Flood165 · 1 death
- Thunderstorm Wind149
- High Wind31
- Drought16
- Heavy Rain13
- Tornado12
- Ice Storm8
- Heavy Snow8
- Winter Weather5
Events per year
45 tornadoes on record (EF0 4, EF1 1, EF2 1, EF3 2, F0 30, F1 3, F2 4).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Hail5" hail06/15/2017
Odessa Ector Co Arpt, Ector County
$100M damage
What happened
Numerous reports of baseball and softball sized hail were reported by the public in Odessa. This hail broke windows on cars and homes. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
- Hail5" hail06/15/2017
Odessa Ector Co Arpt, Ector County
$100M damage
What happened
Numerous reports of baseball and softball sized hail were reported by the public in Odessa. This hail broke windows on cars and homes. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
- Hail2.75" hail05/27/1999
Odessa, Ector County
$85M damage
What happened
This convection fired along an outflow boundary moving to the southwest in northern Crane County. The initial cell immediately split with the left-split storm moving north toward Odessa, while the right-split storm moved to the ESE into Upton County where it dissipated.The left-split storm developed a mesoanticyclone as it neared Odessa. As the heart of the updraft moved northward along West Loop 338, baseball size hail was reported near the West County Road/University Blvd. intersection. The storm continued to the north where golfball size hail chased over 1000 people for cover attending a graduation practice. In downtown Odessa one-inch hail stacked up to ankle deep.The storm moved over the junction of Ector, Midland, and Andrews Counties where golfball size hail was reported. The storm then began to fade near the Andrews/Martin County line. As a line of non-severe storms approached from the west, this storm quickly dissipated.This storm was the most costly storm in the region for many years. Insurance agencies set up special claims stations and brought in numerous out-of-town employees to handle the workload.
- Flash Flood05/25/2003
Odessa, Ector County
1 death, $300K damage
What happened
A significant flash flood event which resulted in the death of a local teenage girl impacted the city of Odessa during the evening hours of the 24th. Numerous reports of flash flooding, including water in homes and stalled vehicles were received. Several swift water rescues were conducted by the Odessa Fire Department across the city. An 18 year old female was killed when she was swept away by raging flood waters while trying to evacuate her stalled pickup truck. Two passengers were successfully rescued from that particular vehicle. High water resulted in dangerous conditions for motorists throughout the city. A few of the most significant reports were received from the area around Ratliff Stadium (where a high school graduation was scheduled to occur) and along University Street.
- TornadoEF2, 1 mi path, 40 yd wide03/19/2012
Gardendale, Ector County
3 injured, $1M damage
What happened
A line of severe thunderstorms moved into Ector County around 11:20 PM CDT March 18th and progressed eastward. At 12:28 AM CDT March 19th, a tornado touched down in the Gardendale community and remained on the ground for two minutes. This tornado produced damage along County Road 30 (Goldenrod Drive) primarily between Chinaberry Avenue and Alfalfa Avenue. As the tornado developed, it moved just south of an RV Park located near the intersection of County Road 30 and China Berry Ave. This resulted in a large camper being toppled by severe northwest winds flowing into the tornado. One minor injury was noted at this location. As the tornado intensified and progressed northeastward, strong inflow winds from the south resulted in a cinder block fence being blown over to the north. Finally, as the tornado crossed County Road 30 (Goldenrod Drive), it reached its peak intensity. This resulted in significant damage to a residential home, along with a 20' x 30' travel trailer and a barn being destroyed. Widespread damage was noted in this area, which also served as a collection point for a great amount of debris from other locations upwind back to the southwest. South of County...
- Thunderstorm Wind104 kt wind06/03/2025
Pleasant Farms, Ector County
2 injured, $40K damage
What happened
A single wide manufactured home was completely destroyed by straight-line winds from a microburst. Two individuals were injured. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar. The cost of damages and maximum wind gust is also estimated.
Drinking water
8 community water systems serve about 142,895 people. Violations since 2021.
6 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 1 system had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- City of OdessaServes 123,334 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+5 monitoring or reporting
- Ector County Utility DistrictServes 15,300 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Greater Gardendale WscServes 3,477 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- City of GoldsmithServes 257 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation+11 monitoring or reporting
- Huber Garden EstatesServes 200 · Groundwater · Private17 health violations
- Northgate Mobile Home Park 1Serves 126 · Purchased surface water · Private1 health violation+11 monitoring or reporting
- Canyon Dam Mobile Home ParkServes 108 · Groundwater · Private21 health violations+25 monitoring or reporting
- Gardendale Mobile Home and Rv ParkServes 93 · Groundwater · Private2 health violations
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Penwell, 9.6 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 97°F in Aug and winter lows bottom out near 32°F in Jan. About 12.5 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 1.5 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 32°F | 0.64 in | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 65°F | 36°F | 0.63 in | - |
| Mar | 73°F | 44°F | 0.55 in | - |
| Apr | 82°F | 51°F | 0.65 in | - |
| May | 90°F | 62°F | 1.42 in | - |
| Jun | 97°F | 70°F | 1.13 in | - |
| Jul | 97°F | 73°F | 1.20 in | - |
| Aug | 97°F | 72°F | 1.54 in | - |
| Sep | 89°F | 65°F | 1.96 in | - |
| Oct | 81°F | 53°F | 1.32 in | - |
| Nov | 69°F | 42°F | 0.69 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 61°F | 33°F | 0.73 in | 0.6 in |
| Year | 66°F average | 12.5 in | 1.5 in | |
Pollution sites
5 Superfund sites and 15 toxic release facilities in Ector County
Superfund sites
- East 67th Street Ground Water PlumeFinalOdessa
- Northwest Odessa GroundwaterFinalOdessa
- Odessa Chromium #1FinalOdessa
- Sprague Road Ground Water PlumeFinalOdessa
- Odessa Chromium #2 (Andrews Highway)DeletedOdessa
Toxic release facilities
- Gcc Permian LLC - Odessa Cement Plant79,761 lbs released, Odessa
- Championx-Odessa Plant60,899 lbs released, Odessa
- Catalyst Oilfield Services 2016 LLC52,437 lbs released, Gardendale
- Dcp Goldsmith Plant28,471 lbs released, Goldsmith
- Halliburton Odessa Field Camp25,853 lbs released, Odessa
- Rextac LLC22,100 lbs released, Odessa
- Univar Solutions USA Inc Odessa12,260 lbs released, Odessa
- Coastal Chemical Co. LLC10,605 lbs released, Odessa
- Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC - Odessa Andrews Highway4,025 lbs released, Odessa
- James Lake Gas Plant2,277 lbs released, Goldsmith
Total: 302,320 lbs in 2024, 227,528 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk1 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Ector County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Ector County relatively moderate for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $46.4M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hail (relatively high), winter weather (very high), wildfire (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Ector County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 714 storm events affecting Ector County, most often hail (289), flash flood (165), thunderstorm wind (149).
- How many tornadoes have hit Ector County?
- 45 tornadoes have been recorded in Ector County since 1950, including 2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Ector County have flood insurance?
- 830 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Ector County, covering about 1.5% of homes. The program has paid $2.5M on 187 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Ector County?
- At Penwell, average highs reach 97°F in Aug and lows fall to 32°F in Jan, with 12.5 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.