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Bee County, Texas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
96th of 254highest risk in Texas
$16Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 34homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Bee County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 96th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $523 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). About 1 in 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance (235 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 90 claims here, including $503,000 for floods in 2001.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Bee County

Hurricane

Moderate
$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate91.2
$7M
Inland floodingLow39.8
$3M
TornadoModerate64.9
$1M
Cold waveModerate68.2
$1M
Heat waveModerate82.1
$1M
DroughtModerate89.6
$1M
Strong windLow43.9
$326K
HailLow55.4
$230K
LightningModerate57.6
$218K
WildfireVery Low61.8
$68K
Ice stormLow52.1
$67K
Winter weatherLow33.0
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low11.7
$8K
LandslideVery Low7.5
$11

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Bee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane12
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2020Hurricane HannaEmergency
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2010Tropical Storm AlexEmergency
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 17, 2003Hurricane ClaudetteMajor disaster
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 18, 1971Heavy Rains, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1970Hurricane CeliaMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1967Hurricane BeulahMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 279 storm reports in Bee County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $17 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1976.

36tornadoes
86hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
88damaging thunderstorm winds
64floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 29, 1976F3–0 / 0
Sep 17, 1968F2–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1963F2–0 / 0
Feb 23, 1994F1Beeville5 / 0
Jun 1, 1962F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 2017Thunderstorm WindNormanna$6M
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindCountywide$5M
Apr 7, 2019TornadoNas Chase Fld B$1M
Feb 23, 1994Thunderstorm WindBlanco$550K
Feb 23, 1994TornadoBeeville$500K
May 25, 2013Flash FloodPettus$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 10, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1851, 16 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bee County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with top winds near 150 mph about 64 miles away.

16hurricanes
6major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2020most recent: Beta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1886UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph64 mi
Aug 3, 1970CeliaCategory 4, 140 mph58 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 1945UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph65 mi
Sep 16, 1875UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 2020BetaTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 26, 2017HarveyCategory 4, 130 mph63 mi
Jun 16, 2015BillTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Sep 7, 2010HermineTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Jul 15, 2003ClaudetteCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Sep 11, 1998FrancesTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Bee County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (235 policies)
24.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 90 flood claims since 1978
2001costliest year, with $503,405 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Bee County

$111,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 10,650 housing units.

Compare in Texas

All 254 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Harris CountyVery HighInland flooding
Dallas CountyVery HighInland flooding
Tarrant CountyHighInland flooding
Bexar CountyHighInland flooding
Travis CountyHighInland flooding
Collin CountyHighTornado
Denton CountyHighTornado
Hidalgo CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
San Patricio CountyModerate32
Karnes CountyLow14
Live Oak CountyVery Low22
Goliad CountyVery Low19
Refugio CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Bee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bee County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Bee County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bee County had?

Bee County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Bee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 96th highest of 254 in Texas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Bee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 34 homes in Bee County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Bee County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Bee County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1976. The weather service has also logged 86 hail reports and 64 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bee County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 16 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bee County, including 6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1886, with winds near 150 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.