Sabine County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 22th
Sabine County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 22.1, 22th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sabine County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 22.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 22nd national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Sabine County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $603K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $672K in expected annual loss and about 2.57 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $56K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Sabine County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Sabine County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 9 for hurricane events and 5 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Sabine County ranks #188 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $603K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.57 / yr | $672K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $56K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.93 / yr | $81K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 20.79 / yr | $348K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.42 / yr | $733K |
| Lightning | Low | 70.26 / yr | $126K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $265 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.21 / yr | $23K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $33K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $176K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.74 / yr | $36K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 29.30 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Sabine County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Fire (5), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| March 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sabine County?
Sabine County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 22.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 22th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sabine County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $603K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $672K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $56K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sabine County compare to other Texas counties?
Sabine County ranks #188 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Sabine County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Sabine County since 1973, most often 9 for hurricane events and 5 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl, declared in July 2024.
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. Sabine County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.