Galveston County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
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
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Galveston County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very High risk — $53M in expected annual loss and about 0.42 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 69.88 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $42M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $198M in expected annual loss for a population of 350K.
Beyond physical exposure, Galveston County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Galveston County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 14 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Galveston County ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
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 |
Disaster History
Galveston County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), Flood (5), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| July 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| November 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
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.
How many federally declared disasters has Galveston County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Galveston County since 1973, most often 14 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl, declared in July 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. Galveston County's $198M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.