riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cooke County Disaster Risk

Cooke County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

73th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#72

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

67th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 55% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cooke County

Risk Verdict

Cooke County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 73th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Cooke County, scoring in the 92th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 91th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (67th), earthquake (55th), hurricane (48th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Cooke County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Cooke County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 24.3 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cooke County, TX?
Cooke County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 73th 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 Cooke County?
Cooke County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (92th percentile), tornado (91th percentile), flooding (67th percentile), earthquake (55th percentile), hurricane (48th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 92th 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 Cooke County risk compare to the Texas average?
Cooke County's composite risk percentile is 73th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cooke County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Cooke County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Cooke County's wildfire risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cooke County is at the 67th 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 Cooke County higher risk than average?
Cooke County's composite risk score of 73th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (92th percentile), along with tornado and flooding and earthquake 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

Anderson County

Texas

+0.3

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Hill County

Texas

-0.3

Relatively Low

73th percentile

Walker County

Texas

+0.5

Relatively Low

74th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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