Matagorda County
Texas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
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
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 |
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.
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.