Houston, TX
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Houston is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk — among the most at-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Harris County, TX. The county's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, tornado, and hurricane.
Storm events near Houston
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Houston's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Houston 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 Harris County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Houston along with the rest of the county, not a Houston-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 85.4 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 100 | Very High |
| Coastal Flooding | 83.2 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 92.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 99.7 | Very High |
| Tornado | 100 | Very High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 99.9 | Very High |
| Drought | 75.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 100 | Very High |
| Ice Storm | 99.6 | Very High |
| Landslide | 88.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 99.9 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 99.3 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 88.8 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Harris County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Harris County:
More on Harris County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Houston, TX at risk of?
Houston is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the most at-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Harris County, where Houston is located, are inland flooding, tornado, and hurricane.
What is Houston's biggest natural hazard risk?
Inland Flooding is the highest-rated hazard for Harris County, where Houston is located, scoring 100 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Houston a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Houston carries among the most at-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very High" for Harris County.
Has Houston had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 41 tornado, 158 hail, 109 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Houston since 2016.