Hale County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hale County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hale County's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 21% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (93rd 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. Hale County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including fire (3), hurricane (3), severe storm (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 |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazards |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 77.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 7 | 0 | $1.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 42.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 32.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 85.5 | 7 | 0 | $250K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 39.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very High | 99.4 | 38 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 84.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 67.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 73.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 77.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 92.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 2.4 | 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
Hale County ranks in the 93rd 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 | 93rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 92nd | High |
| Household characteristics | 89th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 77th | 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 | 75th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 78th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 28.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 52 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 29 in 2016–20 vs 23 in 2021–25 (-21% — 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 Hale County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hale County, Texas are hail, drought, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hale County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hale County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (3 declarations).
Has Hale County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Hale County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Hale County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lubbock County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Crosby County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Hale County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hale County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hale 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. Hale County's composite score of 78 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 78% of US counties.