Houston County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Houston County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 60.7, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 64.12 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.95 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 30.52 / yr | $630K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $198K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $856K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.74 / yr | $587K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.91 / yr | $96K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.68 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.34 / yr | $353K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.07 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $328 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.21 / yr | $23K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $50K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.64 / yr | $61K |
| 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 Houston County?
Houston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Houston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Drought (Medium, $630K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Houston County compare to other Texas counties?
Houston County ranks #107 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. Houston County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.