Jackson County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 181 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $23.97M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 181
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 470
- 6.5% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 1
- 9 tropical storms or stronger since 1874
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 71.7 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively High
Score 68.1 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Low
Score 31.8 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $7.39B · Agriculture value exposed: $109M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $31.59M
Risk by hazard
- HurricaneRelatively High$13.44M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.33M/yr expected annual loss, about 57 events a year
- WildfireRelatively Low$88.95K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 445 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$983K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$378K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Low$74.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- LightningRelatively Low$197K/yr expected annual loss, about 62 events a year
- Coastal floodingRelatively Low$124K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$984K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- HailRelatively Low$114K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
- Winter weatherVery Low$11.52K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$17.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,618 years
- Strong windVery Low$93.39K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- LandslideVery Low$22/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, 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
- 470 of 7,222 (6.5%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 1,602
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 289 (18%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 232
- Claims paid since 1978
- $3.4M
Flood claims paid per year
- Flooding$1.42M · 83 claims
- Hurricane Harvey$307K · 30 claims
- Tropical Storm Bill$237K · 14 claims
- Tropical Storm Beta$27.48K · 2 claims
- Hurricane Claudette$26.82K · 4 claims
- Tropical Storm Paul$2,375 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 181 events, 1 death, $512M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind40
- Flash Flood31
- Hail31
- Drought24
- Funnel Cloud11
- Tornado10
- Heat8
- Excessive Heat8
- Tropical Storm5
- Flood3
Events per year
43 tornadoes on record (EF0 3, F0 17, F1 10, F3 4).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Tropical Storm08/25/2017
Jackson
$500M damage
What happened
Harvey made landfall as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas during the evening of August 25th then slowed and looped back tracking over SE Texas, back over the Gulf of Mexico then making a second landfall along the Louisiana coast during the early morning hours of August 30th. Matagorda and Jackson counties experienced moderate storm surge along Matagorda Bay, Tropical Storm force winds and major lowland flooding along the Palacious and Navidad Rivers.
- Ice Storm01/12/1997
Jackson
1 death
What happened
Freezing rain/sleet event occured on the 12th-13th. Trees, powerlines and roadways were all effected. The weight of the ice caused trees and powerlines to snap/fall. Glazed roadways posed hazardous driving conditions. Over 1100 traffic accidents were reported in Southeast Texas which accounted for 3 deaths. Estimated damage was set at $800,000.
- Drought08/01/1998
Jackson
$8.3M damage
What happened
Drought conditions continue from July. After months of extremely dry and hot weather across SE Texas, relief came late in the month with welcomed rainfall and slightly cooler temperatures. Over 20 people across the region lost their lives due to the extreme heat and property and crop damage averaged $8.3 million per county since May. Locations across the region were finally catching up with rainfall toward the end of the month as the drought was coming to an end. NOTE: CROP AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LISTED HERE ARE FOR THE PERIOD MAY-AUGUST 1998.
- Hurricane (Typhoon)07/15/2003
Jackson
2 injured, $594K damage
What happened
Hurricane Claudette made landfall along the middle Texas coast at Port O'Connor around 10:30 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 15, 2003. Claudette was the first hurricane to strike the Port O'Connor and Matagorda Bay area since Hurricane Fern on September 10, 1971. Historical records dating back to 1851 indicate Claudette is the first July hurricane to make landfall in this area. Claudette developed from a tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea on July 8th. The storm moved westward until July 10th, when it turned northwestward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. This motion brought the center over the northeastern Yucatan peninsula of Mexico on July 11th. Claudette briefly became a hurricane on July 10th and was a 60 mph tropical storm at landfall in Yucatan. Claudette moved northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico on July 12th, then meandered over the central Gulf of Mexico on July 13th. A general north-northwestward motion followed on July 14th and Claudette slowly intensified during this time. Claudette reached hurricane strength on July 15th as it turned west-northwestward. This motion brought the center to the Texas coast at Port O'Connor that morning as a 90 mph Category 1...
- Flash Flood11/21/2004
Countywide, Jackson County
$500K damage
What happened
Widespread major flooding in Edna and Ganado with aerial rescues. Only Ganado's main street passable. 79 homes and businesses received minor or major flood damage with 56 of these facilities in Ganado.
- Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind09/26/2023
Edna, Jackson County
$500K damage
What happened
Widespread straight line wind damage was reported across parts of Jackson County as a strong thunderstorm moved through the area. This included extensive tree damage as well as damage to power lines and some buildings.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/23/2026
Edna Jackson Co Arpt, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind04/23/2026
Edna, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind04/23/2026
Cordele, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind04/23/2026
Morales, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind94 kt wind04/23/2026
Cordele, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind103 kt wind04/23/2026
Cordele, Jackson County
$400K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind04/23/2026
Cordele, Jackson County
- Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind04/23/2026
Cordele, Jackson County
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Jackson County, with the wind when it passed
- Tropical Storm Beta (2020)09/17/2020 · Landfall: TX · 993 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Bill (2015)06/16/2015 · Landfall: TX · 997 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Fay (2002)09/06/2002 · Landfall: TX · 998 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Frances (1998)09/09/1998 · Landfall: TX · 990 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Danielle (1980)09/05/1980 · 1,004 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Abby (1964)08/06/1964 · Landfall: TX · 1,000 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Hurricane Carla (1961)09/03/1961 · Landfall: TX · 927 mbCategory 3115 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1901)07/01/1901 · Landfall: TXTropical storm52 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1874)07/02/1874 · Landfall: TXTropical storm58 mph nearby
Drinking water
11 community water systems serve about 12,406 people. Violations since 2021.
3 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 5 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- City of EdnaServes 5,987 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- City of GanadoServes 1,975 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+9 monitoring or reporting
- Cape Carancahua WscServes 1,305 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Tri County Point Water System 3Serves 915 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
- Jackson County Wcid 1Serves 660 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
- Jackson County Wcid 2Serves 525 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+8 monitoring or reporting
- Tri County Point Water System 4Serves 456 · Groundwater · Private2 health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
- City of La WardServes 240 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
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 Danevang 1 W, 21 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 94°F in Aug and winter lows bottom out near 43°F in Jan. About 46.4 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 0.9 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 43°F | 3.45 in | - |
| Feb | 67°F | 47°F | 2.67 in | - |
| Mar | 73°F | 53°F | 3.16 in | - |
| Apr | 80°F | 59°F | 2.93 in | - |
| May | 85°F | 67°F | 4.70 in | - |
| Jun | 90°F | 73°F | 4.87 in | - |
| Jul | 93°F | 74°F | 3.95 in | - |
| Aug | 94°F | 74°F | 4.08 in | - |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 5.13 in | - |
| Oct | 83°F | 61°F | 4.00 in | - |
| Nov | 73°F | 52°F | 4.11 in | - |
| Dec | 65°F | 45°F | 3.36 in | 0.9 in |
| Year | 70°F average | 46.4 in | 0.9 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 3 toxic release facilities in Jackson County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Jackson Gas Plant97,697 lbs released, Ganado
- Dcp Midstream Eagle Gas Plant10,140 lbs released, Edna
- Sun Coast Resources LLC0 lbs released, Edna
Total: 107,837 lbs in 2024, 27,119 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk3 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Jackson County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Jackson County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $23.97M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively high), drought (relatively moderate), wildfire (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Jackson County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 181 storm events affecting Jackson County, most often thunderstorm wind (40), flash flood (31), hail (31).
- How many tornadoes have hit Jackson County?
- 43 tornadoes have been recorded in Jackson County since 1950, including 4 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Jackson County have flood insurance?
- 470 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Jackson County, covering about 6.5% of homes. The program has paid $3.4M on 232 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Jackson County?
- At Danevang 1 W, average highs reach 94°F in Aug and lows fall to 43°F in Jan, with 46.4 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.