Zavala County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Zavala County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.6, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 123.96 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.05 / yr | $703K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $6M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $120K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.37 / yr | $684K |
| Hail | Low | 1.24 / yr | $113K |
| Lightning | Low | 36.80 / yr | $82K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.15 / yr | $262K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $10K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $7K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.35 / yr | $35K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $11 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| 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 Zavala County?
Zavala County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Zavala County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $703K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Zavala County compare to other Texas counties?
Zavala County ranks #130 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. Zavala County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.