When it comes to natural disasters in the US, Texas is one of the most prone areas. The Lone Star State gets the most tornadoes annually, and that’s just one of the many natural disasters here. So, where are Texas’s best places to live to avoid natural disasters?
The best places to live to avoid natural disasters in Texas include Huntsville, Amarillo, Laredo, Rockwall, El Paso, Victoria, College Station, Nacogdoches, Schertz, and Midlands. All these cities rank low for tornado, hail, flood, and lightning occurrences based on the NOAA storm events database.
However, all of these cities have a population of over 31,000, which means there could be other small towns with less population and still relatively safe. The key to identifying such cities is properly researching their disaster history. Here, we discuss the best places to avoid natural disasters in Texas.
Quick navigation
1. Huntsville
This is the safest city for tornadoes as far as natural disasters are concerned. The state has one of the lowest chances of tornadoes, lightning, and flooding. Located in Walker County and with about 40,000 residents, it’s very safe. But the state also has more than that. It is a relatively nice city and home to Sam Houston State University and Huntsville State Park.
Huntsville isn’t a boring place to live. If you don’t want to visit the park, the cultural district here is a delight. Many historic theatres, art galleries, and more are here. The city has a history and safety with a low cost of living.
2. Amarillo
Trying to escape the devastating flood in Texas, here’s one of the cities to come. The chance of hail and lightning here is also close to non-existent. There are almost 200,000 people in Amarillo, and residents here enjoy the relatively fair weather with a low chance of any natural disasters.
There are a lot of great spots to check out in this city. These include Palo Duro Canyon State Park, World Championship Ranch Rodeo, World Championship Chuckwagon Roundup, Tri-State Fair and Rodeo, and more. If you want a place that proudly celebrates cowboy culture, come to Amarillo.
3. Laredo
This is the second-largest city on this list. With over 250,000, Laredo is in the southwestern part of the state. It’s safe from most natural disasters that have plagued the state for centuries. In Laredo, severe weather is never an issue here. There are a lot of fun activities that happen in Laredo, taking advantage of the pleasant weather.
Festivals you shouldn’t miss while you’re here include the Border Beer Fest, the Jalapeño festival, and Jamboozie. The city ranks high for livability with a 72% rating, mostly due to the low cost of living and low crime rate.
4. Rockwall
Rockwall stands tall and strong against the natural disasters common in Texas. The state is safe from flood, and the chance of tornadoes, hail and lightning are very low. The city of about 40,000 people is more of a suburb than Dallas. It’s also one of the best places to live in Texas. It has a livability score of 91 over 100. Even though the cost of living here is slightly high, it’s a generally fantastic city that scores well for everything that residents want in a good city.
5. El Paso
Here is the largest city on this list. The chances of tornadoes and lightning in El Paso are very low, perhaps due to its location at the tip of the state. El Paso is a trifecta city sharing borders with Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico. The culture here reflects all that.
Despite what many might think, the city of close to 700,000 is one of the safest in the state. It’s the safest city in the country with over 500k population. There are a lot of amazing places to check out in this city, and it’s livable for the most part.
6. Victoria
Victoria makes this list because it doesn’t experience floods. As for the other natural disasters common to Texas, the city has a low chance of tornadoes and lightning. So, living here ensures you’re well protected from the natural disasters in the state. But Victoria has a high crime rate which makes it a bit unsafe.
If you choose to stay in Victoria, there are several nice areas to live in. The city also has lots of attractions, most notably the Riverside Park.
7. Schertz
List all the natural disasters in Texas, and you’ll find they all have one thing in common: low occurrences in Schertz. The city has a population of over 36,000 and is one of the best places to live in Texas. It scores a livability rating of 81%, which is exceptional.
The city is safe from natural disasters and criminal activities, as evidenced by its low crime rate. Residents of Schertz are big on community involvement.
8. College Station
College Station experiences few occurrences of flood, hail, lightning, and tornadoes. But none is that significant, especially when you compare it with other cities in Texas. With over 100,000 residents, the city hosts Texas A&M University, one of the best in the country and well known for its sports team.
It’s one of the most educated cities in Texas and is great for livability. While the cost of living might be a bit high because it is a university city, it’s still an amazing city.
9. Midlands
Here’s another college town that made a list. Midland has over 120,000 people within it, and they all enjoy the moderate climate of the city, which makes it safe from natural disasters. Residents here don’t have to worry much about tornadoes and the like. Even if they happen, they’re very rare and cause little damage.
10. Nacogdoches
The largest Azalea Garden in Texas is in this city. While that might be its claim to fame, Nacogdoches is still an amazing place to live when saving yourself from natural disasters. The occurrence of tornadoes is a bit high, but hail and lightning are low. Floods don’t even happen here. So, you’re home safe in Nacogdoches.
In Conclusion
Natural disasters are very common in Texas and often happen here, causing significant damage and loss of lives. This makes it important to know the safest cities from these weather hazards. But it takes more than safety from natural disasters for a city to be great. So, check other parameters too.
