Dallas County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Dallas County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.7, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $973M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Dallas County is very high, with a National Risk Index score of 99.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 100th national percentile and among the most at-risk counties in the United States. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very High risk — $128M in expected annual loss and about 8.92 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very High risk — $98M in expected annual loss and about 0.95 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Very High risk — $288M in expected annual loss and about 19.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $973M in expected annual loss for a population of 2.61M.
Beyond physical exposure, Dallas County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Dallas County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 8 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (flood), declared in May 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Dallas County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Very High | 8.92 / yr | $128M |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 0.95 / yr | $98M |
| Heat Wave | Very High | 19.11 / yr | $288M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.93 / yr | $115M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.23 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 4.61 / yr | $324M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 4.05 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 4.36 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | Very High | 56.16 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $349K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.01 / yr | $676K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $917 |
| Drought | Low | 30.08 / yr | $32K |
| 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
Dallas County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (8), Severe Storm (6), Flood (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Dallas County?
Dallas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very High category and the 100th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dallas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $128M EAL), Cold Wave (Very High, $98M EAL), Heat Wave (Very High, $288M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dallas County compare to other Texas counties?
Dallas County ranks #2 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Dallas County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Dallas County since 1966, most often 8 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in May 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. Dallas County's $973M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.