Live Oak County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Live Oak County has experienced 23 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.
Live Oak County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hurricane, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 119% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (90th 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. Live Oak County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1967, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (9), fire (4), flood (3).
| 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 |
| 2010 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Alex |
| 2009 | Fire | Lagarto Fire |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 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 | Very Low | 46 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 25.3 | 7 | 0 | $75K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 4.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 55.5 | 24 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 39 | 6 | 0 | $20K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 79.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.3 | 14 | 0 | $30K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 12.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 12.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 29.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 81.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 13.5 | 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
Live Oak County ranks in the 90th 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 | 90th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 77th | High |
| Household characteristics | 73rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 87th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 98th | 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 | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 74th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 51 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 35 in 2021–25 (+119% — 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 Live Oak County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Live Oak County, Texas are cold wave, hurricane, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Live Oak County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Live Oak County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (9 declarations).
Has Live Oak County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Live Oak County include Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Live Oak County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Jim Wells County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and McMullen County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Live Oak County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Live Oak County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Live Oak 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. Live Oak County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.