Lubbock County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lubbock County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Lubbock County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 15% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th 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. Lubbock County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1970, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (6), severe storm (5), fire (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 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2010 | Hurricane | Hurricane Alex |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1970.
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 | 86.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 92.1 | 30 | 0 | $5.4M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 60.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 80.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 47.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very High | 99.8 | 106 | 0 | $187.8M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 99.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 98.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 92.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 83 | 5 | 2 | $108K |
| Drought | Very High | 99.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 20.5 | 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
Lubbock County ranks in the 84th 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 | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 82nd | High |
| Household characteristics | 50th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 86th | 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 | 61st | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 66th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 17.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 146 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 79 in 2016–20 vs 67 in 2021–25 (-15% — 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 Lubbock County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lubbock County, Texas are drought, hail, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Lubbock County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lubbock County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Lubbock County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Lubbock County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Lubbock County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hale County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Garza County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Lubbock County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Lubbock County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lubbock 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. Lubbock County's composite score of 96 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 96% of US counties.