Texas faces almost every hazard FEMA measures: hurricanes on the coast, tornadoes and hail in the north, flash floods in the Hill Country, wildfire and drought in the west, and winter storms that can reach the whole state. It also has 254 counties, more than any other state.
Highest overall risk
Among Texas counties with at least 100,000 people, the highest overall risk scores in FEMA’s National Risk Index are:
- Harris County (Houston): Very High
- Dallas County: Very High
- Bexar County (San Antonio): Relatively High
- Tarrant County (Fort Worth): Relatively High
- Hidalgo County (McAllen): Relatively High
Size plays a part, since big counties have more people and property exposed. But Harris County’s risk is also driven by its flat land, heavy rain and Gulf location. Inland flooding is its costliest hazard, ahead of hurricanes and tornadoes. Harris County has been included in 39 federal disaster declarations for natural events since 1973.
Lowest overall risk (100,000+ people)
| Rank | County | Overall rating | Costliest hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockwall County | Relatively Low | Tornado |
| 2 | Kaufman County | Relatively Low | Inland flooding |
| 3 | Tom Green County (San Angelo) | Relatively Low | Inland flooding |
| 4 | Grayson County (Sherman) | Relatively Low | Inland flooding |
| 5 | Parker County | Relatively Moderate | Tornado |
| 6 | Midland County | Relatively Moderate | Inland flooding |
| 7 | Ellis County | Relatively Moderate | Inland flooding |
| 8 | Wichita County | Relatively Moderate | Inland flooding |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025.
Several of these are fast-growing suburbs east and south of Dallas. They are far from the coast and smaller than the urban core, which keeps their risk lower. But North Texas has some of the highest tornado and hail risk in the country. Collin and Denton counties, just north of Dallas, have tornado as their costliest hazard.
What drives risk across Texas
- Inland flooding is the costliest hazard in most large Texas counties. Flash flooding along the Balcones Escarpment, from Austin to San Antonio, is among the most severe in the US.
- Hurricanes threaten the coast from Brownsville to Beaumont. Hidalgo and Cameron counties in the Rio Grande Valley list hurricane as their top hazard.
- Tornadoes and hail concentrate in North Texas and the Panhandle.
- Winter storms can affect the whole state, as the February 2021 storm showed when it led to federal declarations across Texas.
Questions people ask
What is the safest county in Texas from natural disasters? Among counties with at least 100,000 people, Rockwall County has the lowest overall risk score in FEMA’s data. No county is free of risk.
Is Houston in a flood zone? Parts of it are, but flooding in Harris County often happens outside mapped zones too. See the Harris County page for flood insurance and claim figures.
Which Texas county has the most disaster declarations? Harris County, with 39 natural-event declarations, is among the highest. See all counties on the Texas page.