Ward County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ward County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1998, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Ward County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, hail, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 25 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (72nd 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. Ward County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1998, covering 5 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 |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazards |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1998.
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 | 75.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 27.1 | 1 | 0 | $1K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 21.3 | 45 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 39.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 26.5 | 1 | 0 | $50K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 21.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.6 | 23 | 0 | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 35.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 18.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 35.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 58.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.5 | 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
Ward County ranks in the 72nd 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 | 72nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 65th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 84th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 93rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 75th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 40.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 25 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 12 in 2021–25 (-8% — relatively stable).
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 Ward County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ward County, Texas are wildfire, hail, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Ward County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ward County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (3 declarations).
Has Ward County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Ward County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Ward County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ector County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Loving County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Ward County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Ward County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ward 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. Ward County's composite score of 15 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 15% of US counties.