Wise County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wise County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1982, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Wise County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, hail, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" 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. Wise County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1982, covering 7 disaster types including fire (6), severe storm (5), hurricane (4).
| 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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2006 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1982.
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 | 93.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 60 | 29 | 0 | $772K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 39.7 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.7 | 49 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 75.9 | 8 | 0 | $831K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 87.2 | 116 | 0 | $3.8M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 48.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 26.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 55.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 23.6 | 4 | 0 | $36K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 37 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 60.6 | 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
Wise County ranks in the 54th 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 | 54th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 79th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 61st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 39th | 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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 87th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 82.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 205 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 81 in 2016–20 vs 124 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 Wise County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wise County, Texas are wildfire, hail, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Wise County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wise County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1982, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (6 declarations).
Has Wise County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Wise County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Wise County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Tarrant County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Jack County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Wise County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Wise County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wise 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. Wise County's composite score of 59 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 59% of US counties.