Weather Hazards

Tornadoes and severe hail are real risks in Kaufman County

Kaufman County sits in a part of North Texas that regularly sees tornadoes and large hail — know your safe shelter plan before storm season.

Kaufman County The Great Outdoors

Kaufman County gets tornadoes. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth keeps tornado records for the county going back to 1880. Strong storms have hit in recent years. An EF-2 tornado with winds of 125 to 130 mph struck the Cedar Creek area in 2019. Severe hail also passes through the county as a regular part of the DFW weather pattern.

The county has no public tornado shelters. Officials say traffic would make mass evacuations too dangerous. During a tornado warning, go to an interior room on the lowest floor of a solid building and stay away from windows. Sign up for Kaufman County's Emergency Notification System to get alerts on your phone. Follow the National Weather Service Fort Worth for watches and warnings.

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

More Kaufman County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property tax in Kaufman County

The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.

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Homestead Exemption

File your homestead exemption with KCAD to lower your tax bill

Texas requires school districts to give homeowners a $140,000 exemption on their primary residence — but you must apply with the appraisal district to get it.

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Over-65 & Disability Exemption

Homeowners 65 and older get extra tax relief in Kaufman County

Once you turn 65, your school taxes can be frozen — meaning they cannot rise as long as you own and live in the home.

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Agricultural Special Appraisal

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for

Texas law lets qualifying farm and ranch land be taxed on what it can produce, not what a developer would pay for it — which can cut your tax bill sharply.

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