Cameron County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Cameron County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.3, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $165M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cameron County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 97.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 97th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Cameron County's expected losses come from cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very High risk — $33M in expected annual loss and about 3.06 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $84M in expected annual loss and about 0.16 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 7.50 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $165M in expected annual loss for a population of 420K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cameron County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
The federal record bears this out: Cameron County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 16 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in May 2025.
Among 254 Texas counties, Cameron County ranks #9 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 3.06 / yr | $33M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.16 / yr | $84M |
| Heat Wave | High | 7.50 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | High | 0.33 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.16 / yr | $916K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.50 / yr | $32M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.43 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | High | 0.57 / yr | $177K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $379K |
| Drought | Medium | 49.91 / yr | $678K |
| Lightning | High | 34.09 / yr | $491K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.65 / yr | $547K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $170K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $330 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Cameron County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in May 2025. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Flood (5), Severe Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| July 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms 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 Cameron County?
Cameron County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.3 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cameron County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $33M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $84M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cameron County compare to other Texas counties?
Cameron County ranks #9 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cameron County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Cameron County since 1967, most often 16 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding, declared in May 2025.
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. Cameron County's $165M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.