Jefferson County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Jefferson County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.7, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $141M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 78.84 / yr | $6M |
| Tornado | High | 0.76 / yr | $21M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.17 / yr | $61M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $11M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.54 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.24 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.11 / yr | $32M |
| Drought | Medium | 19.89 / yr | $997K |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.76 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.85 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $100K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $466K |
| Hail | Low | 1.47 / yr | $334K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $142 |
| 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $6M EAL), Tornado (High, $21M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $61M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Texas counties?
Jefferson County ranks #13 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. Jefferson County's $141M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.