Morris County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 35th
Morris County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 34.5, 35th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Morris County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 34.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 35th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. 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 High risk — $670K in expected annual loss and about 1.06 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $633K in expected annual loss and about 5.67 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Morris County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Morris County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including 6 for hurricane events and 4 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Morris County ranks #160 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.06 / yr | $670K |
| Hail | Medium | 5.67 / yr | $633K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $75K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.82 / yr | $513K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 18.21 / yr | $365K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $44K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $91K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.58 / yr | $24K |
| Lightning | Low | 59.26 / yr | $86K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $293K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $92 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 31.31 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Morris County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1966, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Fire (4), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| 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 |
| September 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Morris County?
Morris County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 34.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 35th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Morris County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $670K EAL), Hail (Medium, $633K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Morris County compare to other Texas counties?
Morris County ranks #160 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Morris County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Morris County since 1966, most often 6 for hurricane events and 4 for fire 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. Morris County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.