Texas Porch

Weather Hazards

Lamar County Has a Real Tornado Risk Each Spring

Lamar County sits in a corridor of North Texas where tornadoes occur, especially in spring — the April 1982 outbreak was a significant example.

Lamar County Home & Property

Lamar County is in North Texas, where severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are a real spring danger. They happen here every few years. The area had a notable tornado outbreak in April 1982 that caused damage across the county. The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth tracks tornado history for all area counties, including Lamar.

If you own or are buying property here, make a shelter plan. Check whether the home has a storm shelter. The NWS Fort Worth office sends out watches and warnings for this area. You can look up historical tornado records for Lamar County on the NWS Fort Worth website. You can also sign up for local emergency alerts through Lamar County emergency management.

Source to confirm: NWS Fort Worth — Lamar County Tornado Climatology

More Lamar County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Appraises and Who Collects Your Property Taxes

Two separate offices handle your property taxes in Lamar County — one sets the value, the other handles payment.

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Homestead Exemption

The Homestead Exemption Lowers Your School Tax Bill

Texas law requires school districts to take $140,000 off the appraised value of your primary home before calculating your school tax.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland Can Be Taxed on Its Farming Value, Not Market Value

If land in Lamar County is actively used for farming or ranching, it may qualify for a special valuation that can sharply lower the tax bill.

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Septic Systems

Building Outside City Limits Requires a Septic Permit

Most rural property in Lamar County has no sewer service, so any new home or addition needs a permitted on-site sewage system.

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