Anderson County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Anderson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.6, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Anderson County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 73.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.67 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.15 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $23M in expected annual loss for a population of 58K.
Beyond physical exposure, Anderson County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Anderson County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 7 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Anderson County ranks #71 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.67 / yr | $6M |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.15 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.53 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.10 / yr | $358K |
| Lightning | Medium | 59.20 / yr | $508K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 15.47 / yr | $996K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $244K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $573K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.21 / yr | $9M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.39 / yr | $3K |
| Drought | Low | 30.38 / yr | $251K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.95 / yr | $69K |
| Hail | Low | 3.46 / yr | $151K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $113K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Anderson County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Fire (6), Flood (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Anderson County?
Anderson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Anderson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $6M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Anderson County compare to other Texas counties?
Anderson County ranks #71 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Anderson County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Anderson County since 1966, most often 7 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl, declared in July 2024.
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. Anderson County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.