Polk County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 76th
Polk County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 75.6, 76th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 70.27 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.71 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.63 / yr | $910K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $213K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $192K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.04 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $902 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.53 / yr | $36K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $86K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.24 / yr | $50K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 19.74 / 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 Polk County?
Polk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 75.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 76th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Polk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Polk County compare to other Texas counties?
Polk County ranks #66 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. Polk County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.