Upton County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Upton County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 7.7, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Upton County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 7.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 8th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 66.23 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $188K in expected annual loss and about 3.33 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $27K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 3K.
Beyond physical exposure, Upton 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.
History supports the rating: Upton County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including 4 for fire events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms (severe ice storm), declared in February 2021.
Among 254 Texas counties, Upton County ranks #223 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 66.23 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 3.33 / yr | $188K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.79 / yr | $15K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.53 / yr | $39K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.40 / yr | $132K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $72K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 43.09 / yr | $29K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $59K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $776K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $2 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $479 |
| 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
Upton County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storms in February 2021. Most frequent causes: Fire (4), Hurricane (3), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Upton County?
Upton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 7.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Upton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Hail (Low, $188K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $27K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Upton County compare to other Texas counties?
Upton County ranks #223 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Upton County had?
FEMA records 13 federal disaster declarations for Upton County since 1993, most often 4 for fire events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, declared in February 2021.
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. Upton County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.