It would help if you defined disaster for us. On our boat, anything over 20 degrees is a disaster according to the admiral, and screeching ensues. The skipper is okay up to 45 degrees, which puts the rail in the water. Beyond that skipper gets a bit nervous, but not yet a disaster. Odds of a knock down in our protected waters is next to nil.
Skipper likely reaches the screeching mode when the heel approaches 60 plus degrees, but having never been there before, hard to say. Usually when heel becomes a bit excessive I will pinch higher to reduce pressure on the sails, thus helping to keep the boat upright. Around here we will duck for cover in some protected anchorage until the system passes. A different matter in blue water.