Bee County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 63th
Bee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 62.7, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bee County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 62.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 63rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Bee County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.12 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 62.30 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 9.26 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 31K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bee County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Bee County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 12 for hurricane events and 2 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms (severe ice storm), declared in February 2021.
Among 254 Texas counties, Bee County ranks #96 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.12 / yr | $7M |
| Drought | Medium | 62.30 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.26 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.68 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.37 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $68K |
| Lightning | Medium | 49.39 / yr | $218K |
| Hail | Low | 1.36 / yr | $230K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.36 / yr | $67K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.90 / yr | $326K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.79 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.11 / yr | $24K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $11 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Bee County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storms in February 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (12), Severe Ice Storm (2), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| July 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| June 2010 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Alex |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| August 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| March 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bee County?
Bee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 62.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $7M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bee County compare to other Texas counties?
Bee County ranks #96 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bee County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Bee County since 1967, most often 12 for hurricane events and 2 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, declared in February 2021.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bee County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.