Brazoria County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Brazoria County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.6, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $161M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Brazoria County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 93.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Brazoria County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $21M in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $44M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 70.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $161M in expected annual loss for a population of 371K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brazoria County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Brazoria County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 13 for hurricane events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Brazoria County ranks #17 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 1.11 / yr | $21M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.22 / yr | $44M |
| Lightning | High | 70.01 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.86 / yr | $78M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 14.91 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $887K |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.69 / yr | $691K |
| Drought | Medium | 28.52 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.44 / yr | $5M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.74 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 1.59 / yr | $432K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.03 / yr | $822K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $254K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $988 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $23K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Brazoria County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Flood (7), Severe Storm (6).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| July 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| November 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brazoria County?
Brazoria County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brazoria County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $21M EAL), Hurricane (High, $44M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brazoria County compare to other Texas counties?
Brazoria County ranks #17 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brazoria County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Brazoria County since 1973, most often 13 for hurricane events and 7 for flood 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. Brazoria County's $161M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.