Natural hazards · San Benito

San Benito, TX natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in San Benito comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 229 claims here since 1980. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is San Benito?

72
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in San Benito to be higher than in 72% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and cold waves.

Hurricanes53%Cold waves19%Inland flooding19%Everything else10%
By hazard

What San Benito faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

53% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Inland flooding

19% of expected damage
Well below average · higher than 22% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does San Benito flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in San Benito, from FEMA’s records.

229paid claims since 1980
$7.4Mpaid to owners
15homes flooded more than once
19802026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Dolly: 90 claims, $2.3M
  • Hurricane Allen: 2 claims, $2K
  • Heavy rains: 2 claims, $3K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. San Benito isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cameron County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2buildings retrofitted against wind
1storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit San Benito

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in San Benito itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of San Benito.

Brought FEMA money into San BenitoDeclared for Cameron County only
2025

Severe Storms and Flooding

2,360 households applied for aid $13.8M aid approved
2021

Severe Winter Storms

369 households applied for aid $293K aid approved
2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

61 households applied for aid $18K aid approved
2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

164 households applied for aid $70K aid approved
2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

83 households applied for aid $28K aid approved
2010

Hurricane Alex

198 households applied for aid $313K aid approved $68K to the City of San Benito for repairs
2008

Hurricane Dolly

4,513 households applied for aid $4.8M aid approved $1.2M to the City of San Benito for repairs
2007

Hurricane Dean

$4K to the City of San Benito for repairs
2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

164 households applied for aid $423K aid approved
1999

Hurricane Bret

$7K to the City of San Benito for repairs
Cameron County has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.
Around San Benito

San Benito and the towns around it

Harlingen: High, mostly hurricanesEl Camino Angosto: High, mostly hurricanesBrownsville: High, mostly hurricanesLa Paloma: High, mostly hurricanesJuarez: High, mostly hurricanesLas Palmas II: High, mostly hurricanesCombes: High, mostly hurricanesPalm Valley: High, mostly hurricanesPrimera: High, mostly hurricanesLasana: High, mostly hurricanesEncantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz: High, mostly hurricanesPort Isabel: High, mostly hurricanesVilla Pancho: High, mostly hurricanesLos Fresnos: High, mostly hurricanesReid Hope King: High, mostly hurricanesDel Mar Heights: High, mostly hurricanesSouth Point: High, mostly hurricanesPalmer: High, mostly hurricanesSan Benito: High, mostly hurricanes San BenitoHarlingenEl Camino AngostoBrownsvilleLa Paloma
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
El Camino Angostomostly hurricanesHigh
Brownsvillemostly hurricanesHigh
La Palomamostly hurricanesHigh
San Benitomostly hurricanesHigh
Harlingenmostly hurricanesHigh
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. San Benito covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to San Benito’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of San Benito. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across San Benito total about $8.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01