McLennan County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
McLennan County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
McLennan County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, lightning, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 85% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (89th 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. McLennan County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (6), hurricane (5), fire (4).
| 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 |
| 2013 | Other | Explosion |
| 2013 | Other | Explosion |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 90 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 88.9 | 29 | 0 | $123K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 64.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 96.1 | 51 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.8 | 10 | 0 | $534K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 81.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 90 | 114 | 0 | $7.6M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 66 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 72 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 96.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 96.8 | 4 | 0 | $26K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 55.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 38.3 | 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
McLennan County ranks in the 89th 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 | 89th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 85th | High |
| Household characteristics | 80th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 83rd | 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 | 74th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 76th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 50.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 208 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 73 in 2016–20 vs 135 in 2021–25 (+85% — 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 McLennan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in McLennan County, Texas are tornado, lightning, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has McLennan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. McLennan County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has McLennan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for McLennan County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does McLennan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Bell County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Falls County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). McLennan County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is McLennan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
McLennan 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. McLennan County's composite score of 91 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 91% of US counties.