La Salle County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
La Salle County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
La Salle County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, heat wave, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 385% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (91st 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. La Salle County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1967, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (5), fire (4), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | 322 Fire |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1967.
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 | 66 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 23.4 | 7 | 0 | $100K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 9.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66.2 | 56 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 24.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 63.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 27 | 11 | 0 | $332K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 24.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 14.1 | 1 | 0 | $50K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 47.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 6.3 | 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
La Salle County ranks in the 91st 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 | 91st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 96th | High |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 100th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 74th | 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 | 77th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 79th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 76 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 63 in 2021–25 (+385% — 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 La Salle County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in La Salle County, Texas are cold wave, heat wave, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has La Salle County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. La Salle County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 declarations).
Has La Salle County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for La Salle County include Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does La Salle County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Webb County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and McMullen County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). La Salle County is rated Very Low overall.
How is La Salle County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
La Salle 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. La Salle County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.