Lamar County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Lamar County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.5, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $32M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lamar County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 79.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th 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.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.25 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.65 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 5.24 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $32M in expected annual loss for a population of 50K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lamar County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Lamar County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 6 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (flood), declared in May 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Lamar County ranks #54 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.25 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.65 / yr | $10M |
| Hail | High | 5.24 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.84 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 15.32 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $605K |
| Drought | Medium | 38.02 / yr | $823K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 4.16 / yr | $112K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $499K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.07 / yr | $8M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.37 / yr | $604K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $102K |
| Lightning | Low | 58.35 / yr | $221K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $150 |
| 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
Lamar County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Flood (4), Fire (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| July 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| March 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lamar County?
Lamar County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lamar County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $10M EAL), Hail (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lamar County compare to other Texas counties?
Lamar County ranks #54 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lamar County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Lamar County since 1966, most often 6 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in May 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. Lamar County's $32M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.