Flooding & Weather Hazards

Cooke County has experienced federally declared flooding disasters

FEMA has designated Cooke County for disaster assistance after severe storms and flooding, including a 2024 event with straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flood damage.

Cooke County Home & Property

Cooke County does get hit by severe weather. In 2024, FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center in the county. The damage came from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding. FEMA has also named the county for federal help after past storms.

If you are buying property, check for flood risk first. This matters most for rural land near creeks, draws, or low-water crossings. Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to see if a parcel is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). An SFHA is a zone with a high chance of flooding. If your land is in an SFHA and you have a government-backed mortgage, you may be required to buy flood insurance. That insurance comes through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program.

Source to confirm: FEMA — Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cooke County (DR-4781-TX)

More Cooke County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property taxes in Cooke County

The Cooke County Appraisal District sets your property value; the Tax Assessor-Collector collects the bill — and they are two separate offices.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead exemption can lower your school tax bill

Texas law requires school districts to cut $140,000 off a home's appraised value for owners who live in the home as their main residence.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on production value, not market value

If your land is actively used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management, you may qualify for a special lower tax appraisal based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.

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School Districts

Cooke County has eight school districts — your address determines yours

Eight separate school districts operate in Cooke County, each with its own tax rate, so the ISD for your specific address can meaningfully affect your property tax bill.

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