Lavaca County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 79th
Lavaca County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 78.9, 79th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $34M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.61 / yr | $23M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Medium | 57.57 / yr | $501K |
| Drought | Medium | 54.29 / yr | $356K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.11 / yr | $388K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.47 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 1.69 / yr | $146K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $18K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.74 / yr | $23K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.44 / yr | $21K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.90 / yr | $209K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $15K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $26 |
| 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 Lavaca County?
Lavaca County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 79th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lavaca County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $23M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lavaca County compare to other Texas counties?
Lavaca County ranks #57 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Lavaca County's $34M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.