Waller County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Waller County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.3, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Waller County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 70.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 25.80 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.42 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $24M in expected annual loss for a population of 57K.
Beyond physical exposure, Waller County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Waller County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 9 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl (hurricane), declared in July 2024.
Among 254 Texas counties, Waller County ranks #81 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 25.80 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.42 / yr | $6M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.14 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.61 / yr | $952K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $150K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.69 / yr | $756K |
| Lightning | Medium | 69.08 / yr | $363K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.79 / yr | $9M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.85 / yr | $137K |
| Hail | Low | 2.57 / yr | $189K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $53K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $26 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Waller County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Fire (6), Flood (5).
| 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 |
| April 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Waller County?
Waller County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Waller County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $6M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Waller County compare to other Texas counties?
Waller County ranks #81 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Waller County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Waller County since 1989, most often 9 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. Waller County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.