Brewster County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Brewster County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1998, most recently Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Brewster County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, drought, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 29% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Brewster County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1998, covering 6 disaster types including fire (5), hurricane (3), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Gage Holland Fire |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1998.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 88.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 33.7 | 13 | 0 | $100K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26.5 | 5 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 62.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 34.5 | 53 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 40.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 45 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 12.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 73.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 74.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 53.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 47.5 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Brewster County ranks in the 65th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 65th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 54th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 42nd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 74th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 88th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 89th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 70 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 41 in 2016–20 vs 29 in 2021–25 (-29% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Brewster County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Brewster County, Texas are wildfire, drought, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Brewster County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Brewster County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Brewster County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Brewster County include Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1998.
How does Brewster County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pecos County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Terrell County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Brewster County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Brewster County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Brewster County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Brewster County's composite score of 21 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 21% of US counties.