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Sutton County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
225th of 254highest risk in Texas
$3Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sutton 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 225th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $2.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $750 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 12 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $894,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sutton 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.
$481,369 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 120 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$99,580 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 45 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low19.1
$2M
WildfireLow85.5
$481K
LightningLow38.1
$100K
HailVery Low31.6
$86K
TornadoVery Low14.2
$83K
DroughtLow47.6
$83K
Cold waveVery Low11.2
$60K
Strong windVery Low8.3
$41K
Heat waveVery Low16.6
$29K
Winter weatherVery Low22.7
$14K
HurricaneVery Low29.2
$9K
EarthquakeVery Low3.7
$2K
Ice stormVery Low1.1
$327
LandslideVery Low20.4
$81

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 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 Sutton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Flood4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2026FloodingEmergency
Jul 6, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 16
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Sep 10, 1993Extreme Fire HazardEmergency

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 140 storm reports in Sutton County since 1957 and about $16.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 2, 1991.

5tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
18damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1991F1–0 / 0
Oct 28, 2000F0Sonora0 / 0
May 17, 1999F0Sonora0 / 0
Oct 28, 2000F0Sonora0 / 0
May 9, 2007EF0Sonora Allison Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 21, 2018Flash FloodSonora$8M
Oct 7, 2002Flash FloodSouth Portion$5M
Oct 8, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Jun 16, 1997HailSonora$180K
Apr 26, 2009Thunderstorm WindSonora$50K
Jun 22, 1997Flash FloodSonora$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 1851, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sutton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 60 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Aug 21, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Jun 27, 1851UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 Sutton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$894,365paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $874,207 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 Sutton County

$155,700median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.3%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; 1,766 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
Val Verde CountyLow15
Kimble CountyVery Low19
Crockett CountyVery Low14
Schleicher CountyVery Low14
Menard CountyVery Low17
Edwards CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Sutton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sutton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sutton County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $481,369.

How many federal disasters has Sutton County had?

Sutton County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Sutton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 225th 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 Sutton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Sutton 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 Sutton County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Sutton County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 2, 1991. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sutton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sutton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 60 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.