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Sabine County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
188th of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sabine County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 188th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $574 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Sabine County

$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$733,318 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$672,163 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low32.9
$3M
TornadoLow43.8
$733K
Strong windModerate68.3
$672K
HurricaneLow73.8
$603K
Heat waveLow55.3
$348K
Cold waveVery Low21.0
$176K
LightningLow41.7
$126K
Ice stormLow56.0
$81K
WildfireVery Low58.6
$56K
HailVery Low14.8
$36K
EarthquakeVery Low25.1
$33K
Winter weatherLow31.5
$23K
LandslideVery Low32.2
$265

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane9
Fire5
Flood3
Severe Storm3
Severe Ice Storm2
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
Aug 25, 2017Hurricane HarveyMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Show all 23
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
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
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 224 storm reports in Sabine County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries and about $19.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1974.

23tornadoes
47hail reports, largest 2 inches
119damaging thunderstorm winds
34floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 20, 1974F3–0 / 0
Mar 20, 1974F3–0 / 0
Apr 14, 1993F2Hemphill0 / 0
Apr 8, 1959F2–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1966F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 10, 1998Thunderstorm WindHemphill$16M
Mar 30, 2008Flash FloodHemphill$2M
Apr 14, 1993TornadoHemphill$500K
Feb 21, 2013TornadoPlainview$250K
Jul 8, 2024TornadoMilam$85K
Jan 29, 2013Thunderstorm WindPineland$60K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 1865, 7 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sabine County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 115 mph about 53 miles away.

7hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 3, 115 mph53 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyCategory 2, 100 mph63 mi
Aug 6, 1918UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph52 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph56 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 3, 115 mph53 mi
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Aug 30, 2017HarveyTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Jun 22, 2017CindyTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 2, 2008GustavTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Sep 13, 2007HumbertoTropical storm, 65 mph63 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 Sabine County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$25,639paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $19,246 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 Sabine County

$153,100median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35.2%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; 7,697 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
Jasper CountyLow30
Shelby CountyLow24
Sabine Parish, LALow30
Newton CountyVery Low28
San Augustine CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Sabine County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sabine County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sabine County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $733,318.

How many federal disasters has Sabine County had?

Sabine County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Sabine County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 188th 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 Sabine County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Sabine 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 Sabine County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Sabine County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1974. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 34 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sabine County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 7 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sabine County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 115 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.