Tornado Risk in Motley County, TX
Motley County, TX: what NOAA's tornado record says
28 tornado tracks have crossed Motley County since 1957 by NOAA's count, roughly one every 2.7 years - the Elevated band on this site's scale. That is the 65th percentile nationally for tornado frequency. Among 254 Texas counties in this dataset, Motley County ranks 153 for how often a tornado touches down.
The number that matters more than frequency
No violent (EF4-5) tornado has been recorded in Motley County in NOAA's 76-year database. Of its 28 recorded tracks, 17 were weak (EF0-1) and 6 significant (EF2-3).
Shelter and safe-room economics
Texas does not currently have a confirmed state rebate layered on top of FEMA's 75% Hazard Mitigation cost-share, so a Motley County homeowner should expect the full national range: $2,890-$13,280, $7,645 typical.
Power after the storm, not just shelter during it
A direct hit is not required for Motley County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Texas regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
Wind damage may need its own endorsement
Texas is one of a handful of states where insurers can write wind/hail damage out of a standard homeowners policy - tornado damage may not be fully covered without a separate wind endorsement. Worth confirming directly on a Motley County policy rather than assuming it is included.
What Motley County's figure does not tell you
Motley County's figure is county-wide, not address-specific. Motley County covers about 990 square miles, so a single touch here counts the same as a single touch in a county a fraction of that size. NOAA also documents that older records undercount weaker tornadoes from before Doppler radar became standard. Motley County has about 1,015 residents.