Upshur County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Upshur County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1966, most recently Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Upshur County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, tornado, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 53% 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. Upshur County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1966, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (6), fire (5), severe ice storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beryl |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1966.
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 | 77.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 39.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 80.2 | 70 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92 | 6 | 0 | $2.4M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 61.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 85.3 | 27 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 86.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 94.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 60.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 37.8 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 53.1 | 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
Upshur County ranks in the 60th 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 | 60th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 78th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 54th | 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 | 65th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 64th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 81.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 114 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 45 in 2016–20 vs 69 in 2021–25 (+53% — 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 Upshur County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Upshur County, Texas are ice storm, tornado, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Upshur County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Upshur County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Upshur County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Upshur County include Hurricane Beryl (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1966.
How does Upshur County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Gregg County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Morris County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Upshur County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Upshur County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Upshur 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. Upshur County's composite score of 67 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 67% of US counties.