Terrell County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 0th
Terrell County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.4, 0th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $545K.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Terrell County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 0.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 0th 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 wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $28K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $32 in expected annual loss and about 0.62 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Very Low risk — $20K in expected annual loss and about 6.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $545K in expected annual loss for a population of 757.
Beyond physical exposure, Terrell 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: Terrell County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 4 for fire events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (flood), declared in May 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Terrell County ranks #252 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $28K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.62 / yr | $32 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.37 / yr | $20K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 40.36 / yr | $17K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $28K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.13 / yr | $9K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $13K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $5K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.86 / yr | $421K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.11 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $419 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 89.23 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Terrell County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024. Most frequent causes: Fire (4), Hurricane (3), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| March 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| January 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Terrell County?
Terrell County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 0th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Terrell County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very Low, $28K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $32 EAL), Heat Wave (Very Low, $20K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Terrell County compare to other Texas counties?
Terrell County ranks #252 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Terrell County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Terrell County since 1965, most often 4 for fire events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in May 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. Terrell County's $545K EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.