Tyler County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Tyler County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 61.0, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tyler County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 61.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.11 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $491K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $169K in expected annual loss and about 0.75 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Tyler County has a very 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.
History supports the rating: Tyler County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 9 for hurricane events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Tyler County ranks #104 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $491K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.75 / yr | $169K |
| Lightning | Medium | 73.04 / yr | $342K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.67 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.75 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.11 / yr | $334K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $567 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.48 / yr | $278K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.63 / yr | $29K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.19 / yr | $83K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $46K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 26.47 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Tyler County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Flood (7), Fire (7).
| 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 |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Tyler County?
Tyler County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 61.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tyler County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $4M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $491K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $169K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tyler County compare to other Texas counties?
Tyler County ranks #104 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Tyler County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Tyler County since 1973, most often 9 for hurricane events and 7 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. Tyler County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.