Hutchinson County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hutchinson County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Double S Fire in 2025. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hutchinson County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 50% 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. Hutchinson County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1989, covering 6 disaster types including fire (9), hurricane (3), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Fire | Double S Fire |
| 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 |
| 2018 | Fire | Harbor Bay Fire |
| 2014 | Fire | Double Diamond Fire |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Reimer Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1989.
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 | 94.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 21.4 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 32.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 78.3 | 10 | 0 | $35K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 90.4 | 149 | 0 | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 90 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 72.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 58.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 98.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 19 | 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
Hutchinson County ranks in the 32nd percentile (Low) 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 | 32nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 44th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 64th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 69th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 5th | Very 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 | 26.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 168 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 112 in 2016–20 vs 56 in 2021–25 (-50% — 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 Hutchinson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hutchinson County, Texas are drought, wildfire, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hutchinson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hutchinson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2025. The most common disaster type on record is fire (9 declarations).
Has Hutchinson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hutchinson County include Double S Fire (2025), Smokehouse Creek Fire (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1989.
How does Hutchinson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Potter County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Roberts County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Hutchinson County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hutchinson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hutchinson 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. Hutchinson County's composite score of 68 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 68% of US counties.