Smith County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk

• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$6.5M/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about 60 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively High$7.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Strong windRelatively High$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.5 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively High$282K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively High$605K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$996K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.5 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$346K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 721 years
• HurricaneRelatively Low$832K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 41 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$7,319/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$637K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,136 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$930K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, drought, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

458 of 79,634 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

695

Insured in high-risk zones

225 (32%)

Flood claims since 1978

311

Claims paid since 1978

$4.7M

• Thunderstorm Wind326 · 1 death
• Hail303
• Flash Flood163
• Heat61 · 1 death
• Drought53
• Tornado29
• Lightning24 · 2 deaths
• Excessive Heat24 · 1 death
• Winter Weather19
• Flood16

• Lightning06/11/2009

  Tyler, Smith County

  2 deaths

  What happened

  Two people driving an automobile got out of a truck when the vehicle drove over power lines that were downed from earlier in the evening. The two adults were electrocuted when the exited the burning vehicle.

• Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind04/05/2022

  Whitehouse, Smith County

  1 death

  What happened

  A downburst affected much of the southern and eastern sections of the city of Whitehouse, resulting in numerous trees being snapped and uprooted along its path. The majority of the more significant damage occurred in an east-southeasterly direction, which began in the Willows subdivision just west of Willingham Road, where several small Bradford pear trees were snapped, and small areas of shingles were ripped from the roofs of a couple of homes with winds estimated in the range of 70-75 mph. The winds from this downburst intensified as it crossed Willingham Road, affecting several streets along and to the west of Highway 110. Here, numerous hardwood trees and large limbs were snapped and uprooted, with winds consistent of 90-95 mph. Trees fell on at least 4 homes in this area. The maximum winds near 100 mph from this downburst were estimated as it impacted the Whitehouse Mobile Home and RV Park, where multiple large trees were snapped and uprooted. Unfortunately, one fatality occurred here as a large pine tree fell onto an RV on Barbara Drive, killing a 71 year-old male sleeping inside. Additional large hardwood trees were downed along and to the north of Hagan Road, Railroad...

• Strong Wind44 kt wind10/28/2021

  Smith

  1 death

  What happened

  A strong gradient wind event behind a departing surface low pressure area over Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri resulted in strong northwesterly surface winds across much of East Texas and Western Louisiana during the day on October 28th. The highest wind speeds were observed in East Texas where multiple sites measured peak winds between 45 and 55 mph. The highest wind speed recorded was a gust to 58 mph at the Nacogdoches Airport. Frequent wind gusts of this magnitude downed numerous trees, power lines, and large limbs, with some structural damage noted. In addition, these wind gusts combined with abnormally low relative humidities between 25-35% created an enhanced fire danger atop continued dry grounds given the ongoing moderate drought, with numerous wildfires breaking out across much of East Texas. ||The following are peak wind gusts (45 mph or greater) recorded at various observation stations across East Texas:||Angelina County: |Lufkin Angelina County Airport: 47 mph at 215 pm ||Cherokee County: |Jacksonville: 49 mph at 115 PM ||Gregg County:|East Texas Regional Airport: 55 mph at 307 pm ||Nacogdoches County: |Nacogdoches Airport: 58 mph at 1245 pm |Lumberjack...

• Excessive Heat06/24/2009

  Smith

  1 death

  What happened

  A 37 year old man died around 1100 am due to a heat related illness while working outdoors in the city of Troup, Texas. A heat advisory was posted for the region earlier that morning and continued throughout the day for Smith County, Texas.

• Heat07/11/2002

  Smith

  1 death

  What happened

  Man died from heat stroke while working on his vehicle outside his home. He was found by his neighbor.

• Flash Flood07/19/2021

  Wood Spgs, Smith County

  4 injured

  What happened

  Texas DPS reported that the Allen Branch Creek overpass at I-20 west near Lindale was eroded due to flooding, causing a large pine tree to fall on I-20 and resulting in 5 vehicles and a gooseneck trailer wrecking. Four injuries were reported, but none were life-threatening.

• City of TylerServes 107,000 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Southern UtilitiesServes 69,735 · Purchased surface water · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Lindale Rural WscServes 14,781 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of WhitehouseServes 9,571 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Walnut Grove WscServes 8,775 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• City of LindaleServes 6,313 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Dean WscServes 5,907 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Jackson WscServes 5,862 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+11 monitoring or reporting