Howard County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 55th
Howard County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.8, 55th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | High | 4.63 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | High | 64.88 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $959K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 6.16 / yr | $171K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.50 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.92 / yr | $638K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.00 / yr | $395K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.25 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.58 / yr | $531K |
| Lightning | Low | 47.93 / yr | $112K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $15K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $18K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $52 |
| 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 Howard County?
Howard County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 55th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Howard County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (High, $3M EAL), Drought (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $959K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Howard County compare to other Texas counties?
Howard County ranks #127 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. Howard County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.