Jim Wells County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 87th
Jim Wells County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.5, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $38M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 2.37 / yr | $17M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.11 / yr | $11M |
| Hail | Medium | 1.01 / yr | $732K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 15.38 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $298K |
| Drought | Medium | 61.06 / yr | $629K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $113K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.71 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Low | 44.92 / yr | $164K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.74 / yr | $263K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.90 / yr | $21K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $25K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $17 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jim Wells County?
Jim Wells County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jim Wells County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $17M EAL), Hurricane (High, $11M EAL), Hail (Medium, $732K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jim Wells County compare to other Texas counties?
Jim Wells County ranks #30 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Jim Wells County's $38M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.