Harris County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Harris County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.9, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2.22B.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.18 / yr | $458M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 5.14 / yr | $1.12B |
| Tornado | Very High | 1.61 / yr | $407M |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 0.48 / yr | $118M |
| Lightning | Very High | 74.62 / yr | $9M |
| Heat Wave | Very High | 14.86 / yr | $80M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.91 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 1.52 / yr | $8M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.35 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 1.12 / yr | $296K |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $37K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $562K |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.76 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Medium | 15.94 / yr | $550K |
| 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 Harris County?
Harris County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.9 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 Harris County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $458M EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $1.12B EAL), Tornado (Very High, $407M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Harris County compare to other Texas counties?
Harris County ranks #1 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Harris County's $2.22B EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.