El Paso County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
El Paso County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.5, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $121M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 49.36 / yr | $7M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 2.42 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very High | 0.43 / yr | $15M |
| Heat Wave | High | 7.28 / yr | $14M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.96 / yr | $70M |
| Drought | High | 40.03 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.33 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $119K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $148K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $607 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $21K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.03 / yr | $434K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $23 |
| 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 El Paso County?
El Paso County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in El Paso County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $7M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Hail (Very High, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does El Paso County compare to other Texas counties?
El Paso County ranks #15 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. El Paso County's $121M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.