Cameron County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Cameron County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.3, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $165M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 3.06 / yr | $33M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.16 / yr | $84M |
| Heat Wave | High | 7.50 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | High | 0.33 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.16 / yr | $916K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.50 / yr | $32M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.43 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | High | 0.57 / yr | $177K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $379K |
| Drought | Medium | 49.91 / yr | $678K |
| Lightning | High | 34.09 / yr | $491K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.65 / yr | $547K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $170K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $330 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cameron County?
Cameron County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.3 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cameron County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $33M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $84M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cameron County compare to other Texas counties?
Cameron County ranks #9 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Cameron County's $165M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.