Fort Bend County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Fort Bend County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.5, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $346M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 74.29 / yr | $7M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.77 / yr | $59M |
| Heat Wave | High | 14.32 / yr | $17M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.18 / yr | $71M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.68 / yr | $169M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.47 / yr | $15M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.36 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.83 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 26.20 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $502K |
| Hail | Medium | 2.11 / yr | $811K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $618K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $2K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.11 / yr | $71K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $224 |
| Avalanche | 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 Fort Bend County?
Fort Bend County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.5 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 Fort Bend County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $7M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $59M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $17M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fort Bend County compare to other Texas counties?
Fort Bend County ranks #8 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. Fort Bend County's $346M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.