Donley County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Donley County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently 8 Ball Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Donley County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 70% 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. Donley County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1970, covering 6 disaster types including fire (7), severe storm (3), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Corner Pocket Fire |
| 2026 | Fire | 8 Ball Fire |
| 2025 | Fire | Rest Area Fire |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 84.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 4.2 | 7 | 0 | $28K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 22.6 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 16 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 10 | 0 | $350K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 81.7 | 103 | 0 | $63K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 51.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 31.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 12.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 97.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 9.2 | 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
Donley County ranks in the 34th percentile (Low) 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 | 34th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 50th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 57th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | Low |
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 | 98th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 97th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 65.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 117 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 90 in 2016–20 vs 27 in 2021–25 (-70% — 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 Donley County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Donley County, Texas are drought, wildfire, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Donley County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Donley County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is fire (7 declarations).
Has Donley County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Donley County include Corner Pocket Fire (2026), 8 Ball Fire (2026), Rest Area Fire (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Donley County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Gray County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Briscoe County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Donley County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Donley County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Donley 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. Donley County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.