Willacy County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Willacy County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.5, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $21M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 3.02 / yr | $11M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $6M |
| Drought | High | 77.82 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 35.65 / yr | $239K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.56 / yr | $300K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.19 / yr | $46K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 3.18 / yr | $10K |
| Hail | Low | 0.43 / yr | $97K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.25 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $178K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.57 / yr | $8K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $6 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $21K |
| 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 Willacy County?
Willacy County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Willacy County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $11M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $6M EAL), Drought (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Willacy County compare to other Texas counties?
Willacy County ranks #60 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. Willacy County's $21M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.