Gainesville, TX
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Gainesville is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cooke County, TX. The county's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and wildfire.
Storm events near Gainesville
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Gainesville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Gainesville itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cooke County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Gainesville along with the rest of the county, not a Gainesville-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 91.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 66.8 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 54.8 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 77.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 91.5 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 37.6 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 98 | Relatively High |
| Hail | 92.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 48.1 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 86.8 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 63.8 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 39.2 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 69.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 31.9 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cooke County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Cooke County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Gainesville, TX at risk of?
Gainesville is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Cooke County, where Gainesville is located, are drought, hail, and wildfire.
What is Gainesville's biggest natural hazard risk?
Drought is the highest-rated hazard for Cooke County, where Gainesville is located, scoring 98 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Gainesville a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Gainesville carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Cooke County.
Has Gainesville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 17 tornado, 231 hail, 36 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Gainesville since 2016.