Somervell County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Somervell County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Chalk Mountain Fire in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Somervell County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, drought, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 95% 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. Somervell County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1989, covering 8 disaster types including fire (6), severe storm (4), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fire | Chalk Mountain Fire |
| 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 And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Big Trickle Ranch Fire |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1989.
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 | 81 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 20.1 | 3 | 0 | $15K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 28.8 | 47 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 42.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 42.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 37.7 | 9 | 0 | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 33.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 35.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 43.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 12 | 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
Somervell 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 | 30th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 65th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 56th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 69th | Moderate |
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 | 85.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 59 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 20 in 2016–20 vs 39 in 2021–25 (+95% — 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 Somervell County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Somervell County, Texas are wildfire, drought, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Somervell County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Somervell County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is fire (6 declarations).
Has Somervell County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Somervell County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Chalk Mountain Fire in 2022.
How does Somervell County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Johnson County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Hamilton County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Somervell County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Somervell County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Somervell 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. Somervell County's composite score of 11 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 11% of US counties.