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Nacogdoches County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
50th of 254highest risk in Texas
$32Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Nacogdoches County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $496 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (114 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.1 million on 241 claims here, including $2.0 million for floods in 2023.

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

Top risks in Nacogdoches County

$12.1 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.
$8.8 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.
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.6
$12M
TornadoHigh94.9
$9M
Strong windHigh96.5
$3M
Heat waveModerate91.3
$3M
HurricaneModerate83.4
$2M
Cold waveModerate68.4
$1M
LightningHigh84.0
$650K
Ice stormHigh82.6
$371K
DroughtModerate65.1
$290K
WildfireLow78.8
$265K
HailLow56.0
$243K
EarthquakeVery Low49.0
$190K
Winter weatherModerate75.8
$126K
LandslideLow68.7
$4K

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane9
Fire5
Flood4
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm3
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 18, 2007Hurricane DeanEmergency
Show all 25
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2006Mill Creek FireFire management
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 9, 2001Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disaster
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2000Tx-Chicken Fire-0823-00Fire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 592 storm reports in Nacogdoches County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 39 injuries and about $18.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1961.

54tornadoes
180hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
265damaging thunderstorm winds
85floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 27, 1961F3–4 / 2
Nov 22, 1961F3–10 / 1
Feb 11, 1965F3–0 / 0
Apr 13, 2019EF3Sacul0 / 0
Dec 10, 1983F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 10, 1998Thunderstorm WindEtoile$3M
Dec 10, 1983Tornado–$3M
May 17, 1989Tornado–$3M
May 17, 1989Tornado–$3M
Mar 30, 2002TornadoEtoile$1M
Mar 21, 2022TornadoLilbert$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 1871, 2 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Nacogdoches County, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with top winds near 80 mph about 62 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
17tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 6, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 65 mph60 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 65 mph60 mi
Oct 16, 1989JerryTropical storm, 35 mph48 mi
Aug 10, 1987UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 Nacogdoches County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (114 policies)
19%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.1 millionpaid on 241 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $2 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 Nacogdoches County

$169,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.8%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; 29,156 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
Angelina CountyLow20
Rusk CountyLow24
Cherokee CountyLow25
Shelby CountyLow24
San Augustine CountyVery Low23

Cities in Nacogdoches County

Common questions about Nacogdoches County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nacogdoches County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nacogdoches County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Nacogdoches County had?

Nacogdoches County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Nacogdoches County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 50th 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 Nacogdoches County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches County had?

NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Nacogdoches County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1961. The weather service has also logged 180 hail reports and 85 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Nacogdoches County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Nacogdoches County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with winds near 80 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.