Hale County

Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

78.4

National percentile: 78th

Hale County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 78.4, 78th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $31M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $31M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 32K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Very High $16M/yr
Drought
High $2M/yr
Winter Weather
High $367K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Very High 5.75 / yr $16M
Drought High 84.45 / yr $2M
Winter Weather High 7.68 / yr $367K
Tornado Medium 0.82 / yr $4M
Strong Wind High 2.57 / yr $1M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $255K
Lightning Medium 47.89 / yr $507K
Cold Wave Medium 1.53 / yr $2M
Ice Storm Medium 0.59 / yr $149K
Riverine Flood Low 1.04 / yr $4M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $137K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $23K
Heat Wave Very Low 1.37 / yr $121K
Landslide Very Low 0.09 / yr $2
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood 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 Hale County?

Hale County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 78th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Hale County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $16M EAL), Drought (High, $2M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $367K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Hale County compare to other Texas counties?

Hale County ranks #58 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Hale County's $31M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.