Culberson County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Culberson County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1998, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Culberson County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th 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. Culberson County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1998, covering 5 disaster types including fire (4), hurricane (3), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 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 | 67.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 6.6 | 3 | 0 | $6K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26.9 | 617 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 14.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 11.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.5 | 12 | 0 | $15K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 16.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 32.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 49.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 8.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 13.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 96.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 25.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 40.2 | — | — | — |
| 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
Culberson County ranks in the 84th 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 | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 83rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 80th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 99th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 55th | 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 | 71st | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 72nd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.5% | — |
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 Culberson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Culberson County, Texas are drought, wildfire, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Culberson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Culberson County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (4 declarations).
Has Culberson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Culberson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Culberson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Eddy County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Loving County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Culberson County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Culberson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Culberson 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. Culberson County's composite score of 12 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 12% of US counties.