Wood County, Texas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TX
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 63th
Wood County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 63.2, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wood County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 63.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 63rd 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 Wood County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.23 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 4.56 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 5.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 45K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wood County has a very 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: Wood County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including 5 for hurricane events and 4 for fire events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms (severe ice storm), declared in February 2021.
Among 254 Texas counties, Wood County ranks #95 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.23 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.56 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 5.06 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 18.47 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 28.28 / yr | $659K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.00 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $146K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 3.37 / yr | $80K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.02 / yr | $266K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.32 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Low | 57.96 / yr | $169K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $143K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $636 |
| Tornado | Low | 0.56 / yr | $556K |
| 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
Wood County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1998, most recently Severe Winter Storms in February 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (5), Fire (4), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| April 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| March 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| January 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| January 2006 | Fire | Hawkins Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wood County?
Wood County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 63.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wood County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wood County compare to other Texas counties?
Wood County ranks #95 of 254 Texas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wood County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Wood County since 1998, most often 5 for hurricane events and 4 for fire 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. Wood County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.