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Chambers County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
133rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$30Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 4homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chambers County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 133rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $654 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). About 1 in 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance (3,453 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $129 million on 2,096 claims here, including $71 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Chambers County

$11 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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
Inland floodingLow47.8
$11M
HurricaneModerate85.8
$8M
TornadoModerate75.6
$6M
Cold waveLow49.1
$2M
LightningModerate74.6
$1M
Heat waveLow52.7
$763K
WildfireLow78.8
$648K
DroughtLow63.4
$629K
Coastal floodingLow55.0
$533K
Strong windLow21.6
$354K
Ice stormLow56.9
$208K
HailVery Low28.3
$197K
EarthquakeVery Low19.6
$50K
Winter weatherVery Low16.2
$24K
LandslideVery Low12.7
$79

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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane11
Flood3
Fire2
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Oct 4, 2019Tropical Storm ImeldaMajor disaster
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Show all 20
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1983Hurricane AliciaMajor disaster
Jul 28, 1979Storms & Flash FloodsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 213 storm reports in Chambers County since 1954, with 6 deaths and 10 injuries and about $83.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1969.

33tornadoes
53hail reports, largest 2 inches
76damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 1969F3–0 / 3
Oct 28, 1974F3–0 / 1
Dec 28, 2024EF3Oak Island1 / 0
Oct 28, 1974F2–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1981F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 19, 2019Flash FloodLake Anahuac$80M
Nov 17, 2003TornadoOak Island$300K
Oct 28, 1974Tornado–$250K
Jun 5, 1981Tornado–$250K
May 20, 1983Tornado–$250K
Sep 2, 2000Thunderstorm WindAnahuac$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 1863, 24 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Chambers County, 27 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1932, with top winds near 150 mph about 58 miles away.

24hurricanes
6major hurricanes (Category 3+)
28tropical storms
2021most recent: Nicholas

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1932UnnamedCategory 4, 150 mph58 mi
Sep 8, 1900UnnamedCategory 4, 140 mph64 mi
Aug 17, 1915UnnamedCategory 4, 130 mph59 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyCategory 3, 125 mph59 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1983AliciaCategory 3, 115 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2021NicholasTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Sep 17, 2019ImeldaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 110 mph62 mi
Aug 5, 2008EdouardTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Sep 13, 2007HumbertoCategory 1, 90 mph21 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 Chambers County

Check your address flood zone ›
22.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (3,453 policies)
42.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$129 millionpaid on 2,096 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $70.9 million 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 Chambers County

$329,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
2004median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
20%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 18,937 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
Harris CountyVery High39
Galveston CountyHigh29
Jefferson CountyHigh28
Liberty CountyLow36

Cities in Chambers County

Common questions about Chambers County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chambers County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chambers County, about $11 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $7.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Chambers County had?

Chambers County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Chambers County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 133rd 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 Chambers County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 4 homes in Chambers 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 Chambers County had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Chambers County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1969. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Chambers County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 24 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Chambers County, including 6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1932, 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.