Gaines County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gaines County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1992, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Gaines County's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 67 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Gaines County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1992, covering 5 disaster types including severe ice storm (3), severe storm (3), fire (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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 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 14 total declarations since 1992.
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 | 93.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 30.4 | 18 | 0 | $107K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 19.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 46.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 39.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 95.6 | 45 | 0 | $20K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 47.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 94.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 3.6 | 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
Gaines County ranks in the 67th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 67th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 60th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 78th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 84th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | 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 | 82nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 83rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 67 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 34 in 2021–25 (+3% — relatively stable).
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 Gaines County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gaines County, Texas are hail, drought, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Gaines County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gaines County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1992, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe ice storm (3 declarations).
Has Gaines County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gaines County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Gaines County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lea County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Andrews County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Gaines County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Gaines County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gaines 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. Gaines County's composite score of 58 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 58% of US counties.