Rusk County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Rusk County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.0, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Rusk County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 54.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 54th 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 Rusk County's expected losses come from strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 5.50 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 19.63 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $287K in expected annual loss and about 0.87 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 52K.
Beyond physical exposure, Rusk 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Rusk County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 6 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Rusk County ranks #129 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 5.50 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 19.63 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $287K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $182K |
| Lightning | Medium | 62.08 / yr | $450K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $582K |
| Drought | Medium | 20.73 / yr | $346K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.89 / yr | $82K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $1K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.18 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $168K |
| Hail | Low | 4.77 / yr | $142K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Rusk County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Fire (6), Flood (4).
| 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 |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| September 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rusk County?
Rusk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rusk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $287K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rusk County compare to other Texas counties?
Rusk County ranks #129 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Rusk County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Rusk County since 1965, most often 6 for hurricane events and 6 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. Rusk County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.