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Trinity County, Texas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
108th of 254highest risk in Texas
$13Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Trinity County, Texas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 108th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $953 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 140 claims here.

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

Top risks in Trinity County

$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2.9 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
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh91.7
$5M
Inland floodingLow40.3
$3M
HurricaneModerate83.7
$2M
TornadoLow63.4
$1M
Strong windModerate82.9
$885K
LightningHigh82.6
$495K
Heat waveLow53.4
$264K
Ice stormModerate66.6
$110K
WildfireLow70.0
$104K
HailVery Low22.3
$48K
EarthquakeVery Low29.1
$40K
Winter weatherLow32.8
$20K
LandslideVery Low23.9
$102

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 Trinity County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane8
Severe Storm5
Flood5
Fire4
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
Jun 11, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 25
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
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
Oct 21, 1998Tx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disaster
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Oct 18, 1994Severe Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 2, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 229 storm reports in Trinity County since 1952, with 4 deaths and 27 injuries and about $12.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on January 19, 1990.

25tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 3 inches
105damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 19, 1990F3–0 / 0
May 17, 1989F2–3 / 0
Jan 1, 1999F2Trinity0 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F2–13 / 0
Dec 10, 1983F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2024FloodCarlisle$3M
May 17, 1989Tornado–$3M
Jan 19, 1990Tornado–$3M
Sep 3, 2000Thunderstorm WindSebastopol$1M
Jan 1, 1999TornadoTrinity$750K
Apr 30, 1954Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 28, 2024. 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 25 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Trinity County, 13 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with top winds near 100 mph about 55 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
25tropical storms
2024most recent: Beryl

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 8, 2024BerylTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeCategory 2, 100 mph55 mi
Aug 5, 2008EdouardTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Oct 16, 1989JerryTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 1, 1989ChantalTropical storm, 60 mph62 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 Trinity County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (40 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.5 millionpaid on 140 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $454,005 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 Trinity County

$119,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
37.6%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; 8,326 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
Walker CountyLow36
Polk CountyLow27
San Jacinto CountyLow30
Houston CountyLow26

Common questions about Trinity County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Trinity County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Trinity County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Trinity County had?

Trinity County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Is Trinity County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 108th 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 Trinity County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Trinity 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 Trinity County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Trinity County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on January 19, 1990. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 42 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Trinity County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 25 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Trinity County. The strongest was Hurricane Ike (2008), with winds near 100 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.