riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Austin County Disaster Risk

Austin County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

53th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#131

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

58th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 55% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Austin County, Texas

Austin County sits near average

Austin County scores 53.15 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the relatively low category and slightly above the national average. This South-Central Texas location faces moderate natural disaster exposure across several hazard types.

Slightly above Texas average

Austin County's 53.15 composite score marginally exceeds Texas's state average of 49.00, placing it in the middle range of Texas counties for natural disaster risk. The county's exposure is close to the state baseline.

Mid-range regional profile

Austin County's 53.15 score reflects typical exposure for South-Central Texas, placing it near other regional communities in the state's moderate-risk band. Neighboring areas share comparable hazard patterns.

Tornadoes and hurricanes threaten

Tornado risk reaches 77.32 in Austin County and hurricane risk scores 75.93, making severe weather events your greatest concerns. Flood (57.73) and wildfire (54.77) risks also remain above state averages, creating multi-hazard exposure.

Cover tornado and hurricane damage

Austin County's elevated tornado risk (77.32) and hurricane exposure (75.93) require verified wind damage coverage in your homeowners policy or a separate windstorm rider. Flood risk at 57.73 makes flood insurance advisable; contact the National Flood Insurance Program to determine your flood zone and coverage needs.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Austin County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    TornadoPrepare
    77th percentile
  2. #2
    HurricanePrepare
    76th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    58th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Austin County

Risk Verdict

Austin County ranks at the 53th percentile nationally for natural disaster risk — below the median for U.S. counties. Residents are encouraged to understand which hazards dominate locally and tailor their preparedness accordingly.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is Austin County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 77th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 76th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (58th percentile), wildfire (55th percentile), earthquake (22th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Austin County ranks at the 77th percentile nationally for tornado exposure. Unlike many slow-onset hazards, tornadoes in Austin County can reach full intensity in minutes; a pre-practiced household shelter plan matters far more than stockpiled supplies. The secondary hurricane hazard at the 76th percentile nationally adds seasonal complexity to Austin County's preparedness calendar, since hurricane and tornado risk often peak at different points in the year. Austin County county emergency management typically publishes annual severe-weather preparedness guides tailored to local tornado patterns; households benefit from reviewing these before storm season begins each spring.

Regional Context

The county's composite score diverges by only 4.1 points from the Texas average, making Austin County's hazard profile broadly typical for this part of the state.

Is your household prepared for Austin County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Austin County, TX?
Austin County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 53th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Austin County?
Austin County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (77th percentile), hurricane (76th percentile), flooding (58th percentile), wildfire (55th percentile), earthquake (22th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 77th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Austin County risk compare to the Texas average?
Austin County's composite risk percentile is 53th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Austin County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Austin County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Austin County's tornado risk is at the 77th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Austin County is at the 58th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Austin County higher risk than average?
Austin County's composite risk score of 53th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by tornado exposure (77th percentile), along with hurricane and flooding and wildfire risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Zavala County

Texas

+0.5

Relatively Low

54th percentile

Rusk County

Texas

+0.9

Relatively Low

54th percentile

Terry County

Texas

-1.1

Relatively Low

52th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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