Wichita County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wichita County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1979, most recently County Line Fire in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Wichita County's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 193% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd 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. Wichita County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1979, covering 8 disaster types including fire (9), severe storm (5), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fire | County Line Fire |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Wichita Fire Complex |
| 2011 | Fire | Sisk Road Fire |
| 2009 | Fire | Electra West Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1979.
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 Moderate | 92.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 80.8 | 9 | 0 | $15K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 92.8 | 76 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92.8 | 7 | 0 | $117K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 47.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 95.2 | 187 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 68 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 82.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 71.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 44.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 93.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 27.8 | 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
Wichita County ranks in the 82nd 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 | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 74th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 69th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 74th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 84th | 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 | 93rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 18.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 279 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 71 in 2016–20 vs 208 in 2021–25 (+193% — 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 Wichita County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wichita County, Texas are hail, drought, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Wichita County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wichita County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1979, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is fire (9 declarations).
Has Wichita County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Wichita County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is County Line Fire in 2022.
How does Wichita County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Wilbarger County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Cotton County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Wichita County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Wichita County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wichita 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. Wichita County's composite score of 82 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 82% of US counties.