Orange County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Orange County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.9, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $54M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 80.47 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.15 / yr | $21M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.50 / yr | $752K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.36 / yr | $17M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.30 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.95 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $198K |
| Drought | Low | 21.16 / yr | $81K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.61 / yr | $408K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.89 / yr | $43K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.51 / yr | $92K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $15 |
| 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 Orange County?
Orange County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Orange County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Hurricane (High, $21M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Orange County compare to other Texas counties?
Orange County ranks #32 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Orange County's $54M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.