Runnels County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Runnels County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Runnels County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 93% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Runnels County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1993, covering 6 disaster types including fire (3), hurricane (3), severe ice storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1993.
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 | 72.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 23.4 | 7 | 1 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 14.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 37.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 42.1 | 5 | 0 | $6.0M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 33.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 67 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 76.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 51.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.2 | 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
Runnels County ranks in the 51st percentile (Moderate) 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 | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 49th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 99th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 78th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | Very 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 | 78th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 80th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 48.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 79 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 52 in 2021–25 (+93% — 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 Runnels County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Runnels County, Texas are drought, hail, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Runnels County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Runnels County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (3 declarations).
Has Runnels County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Runnels County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Runnels County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Taylor County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Coke County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Runnels County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Runnels County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Runnels 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. Runnels County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.