Johnson County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Johnson County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Johnson County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, wildfire, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 100% 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. Johnson County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1989, covering 8 disaster types including fire (5), severe storm (4), hurricane (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 | Huntington Brook Fire |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
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 | 94.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 80.9 | 25 | 1 | $637K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 51 | 10 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 92.6 | 52 | 2 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.1 | 7 | 0 | $1.4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 53.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 85.9 | 118 | 0 | $2.4M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 39.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 81.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.2 | 1 | 0 | $250K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 15.1 | 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
Johnson County ranks in the 63rd 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 | 63rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 55th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 69th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 61st | Moderate |
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 | 88th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 89th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 68.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 201 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 67 in 2016–20 vs 134 in 2021–25 (+100% — frequency increasing).
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 Johnson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Johnson County, Texas are tornado, wildfire, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Johnson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Johnson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Johnson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Johnson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Johnson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Tarrant County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Somervell County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Johnson County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Johnson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Johnson 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. Johnson County's composite score of 87 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 87% of US counties.