Walker County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Walker County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.8, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $25M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Walker County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 73.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th 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 Walker County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.50 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 22.85 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $757K in expected annual loss and about 67.31 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $25M in expected annual loss for a population of 76K.
Beyond physical exposure, Walker County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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: Walker County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 10 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Walker County ranks #70 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.50 / yr | $6M |
| Drought | Medium | 22.85 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 67.31 / yr | $757K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.79 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $261K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.90 / yr | $254K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.25 / yr | $9M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.95 / yr | $45K |
| Hail | Low | 2.24 / yr | $156K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $491 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.60 / yr | $309K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $67K |
| 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
Walker County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (8), Flood (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 |
| February 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Harvey |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Walker County?
Walker County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Walker County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $6M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $757K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Walker County compare to other Texas counties?
Walker County ranks #70 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Walker County had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Walker County since 1989, most often 10 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm 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. Walker County's $25M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.