Photo: Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Sour Lake’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sour Lake gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 114 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Sour Lake’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sour Lake faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Sour Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sour Lake, and Sour Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sour Lake’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Sour Lake: $977K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sour Lake flood? Yes: 114 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sour Lake, from FEMA’s records: 121.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey31 claims · $2.9M
- Tropical Storm Allison22 claims · $495K
- Tropical Storm Paul4 claims · $353K
Sour Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hardin County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sour Lake
Disasters that paid out in Sour Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sour Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding40 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms31 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Harvey1,470 households applied for aid$11.3M aid approved$149K to the City of Sour Lake for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $2.9M
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$51K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike1,189 households applied for aid$503K aid approved$484K to the City of Sour Lake for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita2,137 households applied for aid$4.0M aid approved$397K to the City of Sour Lake for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Hardin County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Sour Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sour Lake archive →Get ready for what Sour Lake faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sour Lake
Is Sour Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sour Lake has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (19%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sour Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 114 claims in Sour Lake since 1979, $5.2M in all, or 121.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (31).
Is Sour Lake in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Hardin County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sour Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sour Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Sour Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Sour Lake, Hurricane Harvey (2017): 1,470 households applied for aid, $11.3M approved, and $149K to the City of Sour Lake for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 31 paid, $2.9M.
Is Sour Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Sour Lake’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sour Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sour Lake’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.