Natural Disasters in Wharton, TX

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

83.0

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

76.7

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

83.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

41.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane94.8Cold Wave92.5Drought91.4
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane94.8
Cold Wave92.5
Drought91.4
Heat Wave78.6
Hail75.5
Tornado72.4
Lightning69.4
Ice Storm56.0
Wildfire53.0
Strong Wind45.9
Winter Weather36.6
Earthquake26.2
Landslide11.2

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

26

Most Recent

Hurricane

Jul 2024

Most Common Type

Hurricane

11 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jul 9, 2024HurricaneHURRICANE BERYL
Feb 19, 2021Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS
Feb 14, 2021Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Aug 24, 2020HurricaneTROPICAL STORMS MARCO AND LAURA
Jul 26, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE HANNA
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Aug 25, 2017HurricaneHURRICANE HARVEY
Apr 25, 2016FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
May 29, 2015Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING
Sep 13, 2008HurricaneHURRICANE IKE
Sep 10, 2008HurricaneHURRICANE IKE
Aug 29, 2008HurricaneHURRICANE GUSTAV
Aug 18, 2007HurricaneHURRICANE DEAN
Jan 11, 2006FireEXTREME WILDFIRE THREAT
Sep 24, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE RITA
Sep 21, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE RITA
Sep 2, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Sep 26, 2002Coastal StormTROPICAL STORM FAY
Sep 1, 1999FireEXTREME FIRE HAZARDS

Showing 20 of 26 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

6,853

Total IA Distributed

$14,972,700

Repair/Replace

$7,302,488

Rental Assistance

$2,319,449

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-16061N/A—
DR-17912N/A—
DR-43323,732$12,577,298$8,355
DR-47982,459$1,685,049—
DR-4269216$370,234$10,222
DR-4586399$227,834$907
DR-448517$101,225—
DR-422327$11,060$563

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

1,165

Total Claims Paid

$51,955,217

Avg Claim Payout

$44,597

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$14,811,702

Disasters with PA

7

Total Projects

177

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4332Hurricane94$6,613,018
DR-4798Tropical Storm33$4,458,977
DR-4223Severe Storm(s)24$1,812,510
DR-4269Flood13$1,551,738
DR-1791Hurricane10$259,029
DR-1606Hurricane2$101,616
DR-4586Winter Storm1$14,815

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

15

Federal Funding

$3,617,042

Properties Protected

9

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

5.36

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures3$220,779
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)2$140,216
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine1$102,240
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures1$0
501.1: Other Major Structural Projects1$300

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Wharton has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, cold wave, drought. The area has had 26 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (11 declarations). 1,165 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $14,811,702 in public assistance recovery funding. $14,972,700 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 15 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.