Karnes County

Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

58.4

National percentile: 58th

Karnes County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 58.4, 58th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $12M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 15K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $811K/yr
Hurricane
Medium $2M/yr
Hail
Medium $428K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 65.11 / yr $811K
Hurricane Medium 0.10 / yr $2M
Hail Medium 2.07 / yr $428K
Riverine Flood Low 2.64 / yr $6M
Heat Wave Low 10.89 / yr $381K
Tornado Low 0.30 / yr $1M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $47K
Cold Wave Low 0.42 / yr $495K
Lightning Low 48.93 / yr $107K
Strong Wind Low 0.92 / yr $158K
Winter Weather Low 1.63 / yr $15K
Ice Storm Low 0.26 / yr $16K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $7K
Landslide Very Low 0.09 / yr $20
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 Karnes County?

Karnes County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 58.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 58th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Karnes County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $811K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $2M EAL), Hail (Medium, $428K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Karnes County compare to other Texas counties?

Karnes County ranks #114 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. Karnes County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.