Austin County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Austin County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.1, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 37.53 / yr | $973K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.48 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.11 / yr | $941K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.45 / yr | $663K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.68 / yr | $509K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.63 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.04 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $51K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.71 / yr | $75K |
| Lightning | Low | 63.44 / yr | $205K |
| Hail | Low | 2.49 / yr | $135K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $28K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $39 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.63 / 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 Austin County?
Austin County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Austin County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $973K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $941K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Austin County compare to other Texas counties?
Austin County ranks #131 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. Austin County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.