Cochran County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Cochran County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Cochran County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 28 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (94th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Cochran County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1970, covering 7 disaster types including fire (4), severe storm (3), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1970.
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 | 68.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 1.8 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 10.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 9.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 21.7 | 9 | 0 | $5K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 19.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 89.5 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 26.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 29.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 9.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 20.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 94.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Cochran County ranks in the 94th percentile (High) 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 | 94th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 91st | High |
| Household characteristics | 89th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | High |
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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 87th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 43.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 3 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 .
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 Cochran County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Cochran County, Texas are drought, hail, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Cochran County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Cochran County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is fire (4 declarations).
Has Cochran County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Cochran County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Cochran County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Roosevelt County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Bailey County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Cochran County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Cochran County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Cochran 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. Cochran County's composite score of 13 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 13% of US counties.