Stephens County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Stephens County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Stephens County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, hail, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 100% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (99th 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. Stephens County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1978, covering 7 disaster types including fire (10), flood (3), hurricane (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 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Pk West Fire |
| 2011 | Fire | Pk East Fire |
| 2011 | Fire | Hohertz Fire |
| 2009 | Fire | Breckenridge Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1978.
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 | 76 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 18.7 | 5 | 1 | $150K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 10.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 38.5 | 41 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 26.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 36 | 0 | $886K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 25.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 16.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 27.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 5.9 | 2 | 0 | $2.8M |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 48.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 54.8 | 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
Stephens County ranks in the 99th 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 | 99th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 98th | High |
| Household characteristics | 95th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 68th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 98th | 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 | 93rd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 94th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 78 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 52 in 2021–25 (+100% — 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 Stephens County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Stephens County, Texas are wildfire, hail, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Stephens County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Stephens County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (10 declarations).
Has Stephens County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Stephens County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Stephens County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Palo Pinto County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Shackelford County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Stephens County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Stephens County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Stephens 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. Stephens County's composite score of 9 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 9% of US counties.