Parker County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Parker County has experienced 26 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Parker County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, tornado, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 96% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (26th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Parker County has been designated in 26 declarations since 1975, covering 8 disaster types including flood (6), severe storm (5), fire (5).
| 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 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 total declarations since 1975.
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 | 96.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 72.4 | 12 | 0 | $325K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.4 | 7 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 89.5 | 49 | 1 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 96.2 | 11 | 0 | $1.6M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 45.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 84.2 | 139 | 0 | $3.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 25.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 35.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 70.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 67.4 | 3 | 0 | $310K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 34.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 64.8 | 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
Parker County ranks in the 26th percentile (Low) 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 | 26th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 32nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 23rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 26th | Low |
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 | 92nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 93rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 80.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 213 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 72 in 2016–20 vs 141 in 2021–25 (+96% — 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 Parker County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Parker County, Texas are wildfire, tornado, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Parker County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Parker County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Parker County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Parker County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Parker 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 Jack County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Parker County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Parker County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Parker 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. Parker County's composite score of 81 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 81% of US counties.