Hemphill County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hemphill County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1998, most recently Smokehouse Creek Fire in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Hemphill County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 59% 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. Hemphill County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1998, covering 5 disaster types including fire (5), severe ice storm (3), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fire | Smokehouse Creek Fire |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1998.
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 | 89.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 3.6 | 3 | 0 | $13K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 15.6 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 8.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 51.2 | 9 | 0 | $120K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 34.6 | 57 | 0 | $15K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 45.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 59.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 39.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 3.1 | 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
Hemphill County ranks in the 56th 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 | 56th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 38th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 90th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 77th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 32nd | 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 | 100th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 99th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 62.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 69 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 49 in 2016–20 vs 20 in 2021–25 (-59% — 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 Hemphill County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hemphill County, Texas are drought, wildfire, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hemphill County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hemphill County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Hemphill County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hemphill County include Smokehouse Creek Fire (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1998.
How does Hemphill 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 Roberts County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Hemphill County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hemphill County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hemphill 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. Hemphill County's composite score of 17 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 17% of US counties.