Matagorda County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Matagorda County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 80.3, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $33M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Matagorda County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 80.3 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 Matagorda County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $20M in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 44.36 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $868K in expected annual loss and about 14.67 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $33M in expected annual loss for a population of 36K.
Beyond physical exposure, Matagorda 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 federal record bears this out: Matagorda County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 14 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Matagorda County ranks #52 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.19 / yr | $20M |
| Drought | Medium | 44.36 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 14.67 / yr | $868K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $179K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $733K |
| Lightning | Medium | 64.04 / yr | $310K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.44 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.73 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.00 / yr | $7M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.56 / yr | $73K |
| Hail | Low | 1.12 / yr | $142K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.72 / yr | $139K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $35 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.91 / yr | $3K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Matagorda County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), Flood (5), Fire (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura |
| July 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| September 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Matagorda County?
Matagorda County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 80.3 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 Matagorda County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $20M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $868K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Matagorda County compare to other Texas counties?
Matagorda County ranks #52 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Matagorda County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Matagorda County since 1967, most often 14 for hurricane events and 5 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. Matagorda County's $33M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.