Galveston County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Galveston County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.4, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $198M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 0.42 / yr | $53M |
| Lightning | Very High | 69.88 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.22 / yr | $42M |
| Drought | High | 20.87 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | High | 0.62 / yr | $19M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.93 / yr | $63M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 15.27 / yr | $5M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.77 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.76 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $734K |
| Hail | Low | 1.74 / yr | $559K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $413K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.09 / yr | $627K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $121 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $14K |
| 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 Galveston County?
Galveston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.4 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 Galveston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $53M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Hurricane (High, $42M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Galveston County compare to other Texas counties?
Galveston County ranks #16 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. Galveston County's $198M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.