Frio County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Frio County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Frio County's highest-rated hazards are drought, heat wave, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 30 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (97th 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. Frio County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1990, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (4), fire (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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe 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 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 Low | 75.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 46.6 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 10.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84.8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 53.4 | 2 | 0 | $150K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 71.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 74.3 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 24.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 33.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 40.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 55 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 93.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 7.3 | 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
Frio County ranks in the 97th 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 | 97th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 83rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 99th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 100th | 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 | 83rd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 83rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 30 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (-12% — 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 Frio County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Frio County, Texas are drought, heat wave, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Frio County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Frio County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (4 declarations).
Has Frio County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Frio County include Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1990.
How does Frio County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Medina County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and McMullen County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Frio County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Frio County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Frio 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. Frio County's composite score of 56 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 56% of US counties.