Bee County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Bee County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Bee County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, drought, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 83% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Bee County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1967, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (12), severe ice storm (2), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| 2010 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Alex |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1967.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 61.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 39.8 | 10 | 0 | $55K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 11.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | 8 | 3 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 64.9 | 1 | 0 | $1.3M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 91.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 55.4 | 15 | 0 | $140K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 43.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 33 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 52.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 68.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Bee County ranks in the 92nd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 95th | High |
| Household characteristics | 41st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 96th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 78th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 77th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 61.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (+83% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Bee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Bee County, Texas are hurricane, drought, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Bee County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Bee County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (12 declarations).
Has Bee County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Bee County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Bee County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Nueces County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Goliad County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Bee County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Bee County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Bee County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Bee County's composite score of 63 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 63% of US counties.