Harrison County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 78th
Harrison County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.7, 78th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $29M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Harrison County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 77.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 78th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Harrison County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.34 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 0.84 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 20.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $29M in expected annual loss for a population of 69K.
Beyond physical exposure, Harrison County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Harrison County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 7 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Harrison County ranks #59 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.34 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.84 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 20.00 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Medium | 5.50 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.79 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $236K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 3.11 / yr | $106K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $434K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 6.34 / yr | $702K |
| Drought | Medium | 25.11 / yr | $335K |
| Lightning | Medium | 62.42 / yr | $338K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $8M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $281K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $635 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Harrison County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Fire (6), Flood (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Harrison County?
Harrison County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 78th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Harrison County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $8M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Harrison County compare to other Texas counties?
Harrison County ranks #59 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Harrison County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Harrison County since 1966, most often 7 for hurricane events and 6 for fire 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. Harrison County's $29M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.