Liberty County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Liberty County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.5, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Liberty County carries a low composite natural disaster 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.
Most of Liberty County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 75.18 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 0.99 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.17 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 91K.
Beyond physical exposure, Liberty County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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 federal record bears this out: Liberty County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for hurricane events and 10 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Liberty County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 75.18 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.99 / yr | $9M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 14.55 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $477K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.49 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $286K |
| Drought | Medium | 19.10 / yr | $622K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.50 / yr | $10M |
| Hail | Low | 2.33 / yr | $157K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.07 / yr | $29K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.35 / yr | $259K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $63K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $323 |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $79 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Liberty County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Flood (10), Severe Storm (8).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2019 | Flood | Tropical Storm Imelda |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 38 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Liberty County?
Liberty 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 Liberty County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $9M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Liberty County compare to other Texas counties?
Liberty County ranks #55 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Liberty County had?
FEMA records 38 federal disaster declarations for Liberty County since 1973, most often 10 for hurricane events and 10 for flood 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. Liberty County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.