Erath County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Erath County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Erath County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, cold wave, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 106% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (80th 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. Erath County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1990, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (4), fire (4), hurricane (3).
| 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 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1990.
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 Moderate | 95.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 72.1 | 8 | 3 | $75K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 34 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 82.8 | 4 | 0 | $1.6M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 56.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 67.8 | 49 | 0 | $743K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 52.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 48.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 30.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 92.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 68.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 25.7 | 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
Erath County ranks in the 80th 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 | 80th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 91st | High |
| Household characteristics | 15th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 92nd | 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 | 91st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 92nd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 75.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 95 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 31 in 2016–20 vs 64 in 2021–25 (+106% — frequency increasing).
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 Erath County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Erath County, Texas are wildfire, cold wave, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Erath County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Erath County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Erath County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Erath County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Erath County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hood County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Somervell County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Erath County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Erath County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Erath 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. Erath County's composite score of 75 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 75% of US counties.