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San Saba County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
224th of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 27homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

San Saba County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 224th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $577 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). About 1 in 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 28 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in San Saba County

$1.5 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.

Drought

Moderate
$643,367 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 71 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Very Low
$270,155 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low14.9
$2M
DroughtModerate76.6
$643K
TornadoVery Low23.4
$270K
HailLow49.6
$218K
Cold waveVery Low19.6
$185K
WildfireLow71.5
$166K
Strong windVery Low13.2
$92K
LightningVery Low23.3
$68K
Heat waveVery Low22.6
$66K
Winter weatherLow29.4
$25K
HurricaneVery Low37.9
$22K
EarthquakeVery Low3.7
$3K
Ice stormVery Low3.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low12.9
$39

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 moderate 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 San Saba County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire7
Flood5
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jun 29, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2000Tx-Deep Creek Fire-9/8/00Fire management
Sep 19, 1999Williams Ranch FireFire management
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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 260 storm reports in San Saba County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 12, 1999 near Richland Spgs.

17tornadoes
162hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
51damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 12, 1999F2Richland Spgs0 / 0
May 15, 1981F2–0 / 0
Jun 28, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jul 20, 1956F1–0 / 0
Jan 20, 1973F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 1997Flash FloodRichland Spgs$1M
Jun 1, 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$900K
Jun 9, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$800K
Oct 18, 1993HailRichland Springs$500K
Mar 12, 1999TornadoRichland Spgs$300K
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodCherokee$225K

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 1886, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of San Saba County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with top winds near 65 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1973most recent: Delia

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1973DeliaTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 65 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 San Saba County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $1.1 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 San Saba County

$168,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.5%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; 2,835 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
Burnet CountyLow22
Brown CountyLow23
Lampasas CountyVery Low17
Llano CountyLow15
McCulloch CountyVery Low17
Mills CountyVery Low15
Mason CountyVery Low19

Common questions about San Saba County

What is the biggest natural hazard in San Saba County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Saba County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $643,367.

How many federal disasters has San Saba County had?

San Saba County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in July 2025.

Is San Saba County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 224th 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 San Saba County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 27 homes in San Saba 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 San Saba County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in San Saba County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 12, 1999 near Richland Spgs. The weather service has also logged 162 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit San Saba County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of San Saba County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, with winds near 65 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.