San Jacinto County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 59th
San Jacinto County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 58.9, 59th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in San Jacinto County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 58.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 59th 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.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.45 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $640K in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $400K in expected annual loss and about 70.64 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 27K.
Beyond physical exposure, San Jacinto County has a very 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: San Jacinto County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for hurricane events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Pauline Road Fire (fire), declared in March 2025.
Among 254 Texas counties, San Jacinto County ranks #112 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.45 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.13 / yr | $640K |
| Lightning | Medium | 70.64 / yr | $400K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $107K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.32 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.77 / yr | $86K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.63 / yr | $358K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.63 / yr | $798K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.55 / yr | $306K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $245 |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.38 / yr | $79K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $3K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.26 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
San Jacinto County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Pauline Road Fire in March 2025. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Flood (9), Severe Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Fire | Pauline Road Fire |
| 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 |
| October 2019 | Flood | Tropical Storm Imelda |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for San Jacinto County?
San Jacinto County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 58.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 59th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in San Jacinto County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $640K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $400K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does San Jacinto County compare to other Texas counties?
San Jacinto County ranks #112 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has San Jacinto County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for San Jacinto County since 1973, most often 10 for hurricane events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Pauline Road Fire, declared in March 2025.
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. San Jacinto County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.