Yoakum County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Yoakum County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1992, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Yoakum County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 21 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Yoakum County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1992, 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 12 total declarations since 1992.
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 | 86.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 36.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 14 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 26.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 30 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 90.3 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 59.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 76 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 96.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.7 | 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
Yoakum County ranks in the 59th 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 | 59th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 62nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 59th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 96th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | 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 | 86th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 38.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 21 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 6 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 .
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 Yoakum County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Yoakum County, Texas are drought, hail, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Yoakum County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Yoakum County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1992, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (3 declarations).
Has Yoakum County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Yoakum County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Yoakum County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lea County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Cochran County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Yoakum County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Yoakum County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Yoakum 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. Yoakum County's composite score of 46 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 46% of US counties.